Zhili Zou1, Bo Zhou2, Yulan Huang2, Jinyu Wang2, Wenjiao Min2, Tao Li3. 1. Mental Health Center, West China University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Psychosomatic Department, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China. 2. Psychosomatic Department, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China. 3. Mental Health Center, West China University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. Electronic address: litaohx@scu.edu.cn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences among panic disorder (PD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and controls in inflammatory cytokines. We also analysed the correlation between inflammatory cytokines and response to escitalopram in PD and GAD patients. METHODS: Eighty-six patients with PD, 86 patients with GAD and 86 healthy controls were recruited for this study. All participants were, respectively, assessed for severity of anxiety and panic symptoms using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) and the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS); all patients in the study were also assessed after 4 weeks of treatment. The serum levels of cytokines were measured using a flow fluorescence microsphere assay. RESULTS: Both PD and GAD patients had higher serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) than controls, and patients with PD showed significantly higher IL-6 than GAD patients. Significant positive correlations were found between the IFN-γ levels and the severity of anxiety in GAD patients. Higher level of IL-6 was associated with better response to escitalopram treatment in PD patients. However, the baseline levels of cytokines were not associated with treatment responses in GAD patients. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that patients with PD may have higher levels of IL-6 than GAD, and higher baseline levels of IL-6 may be a better response to escitalopram in the treatment of PD.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences among panic disorder (PD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and controls in inflammatory cytokines. We also analysed the correlation between inflammatory cytokines and response to escitalopram in PD and GAD patients. METHODS: Eighty-six patients with PD, 86 patients with GAD and 86 healthy controls were recruited for this study. All participants were, respectively, assessed for severity of anxiety and panic symptoms using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) and the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS); all patients in the study were also assessed after 4 weeks of treatment. The serum levels of cytokines were measured using a flow fluorescence microsphere assay. RESULTS: Both PD and GAD patients had higher serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) than controls, and patients with PD showed significantly higher IL-6 than GAD patients. Significant positive correlations were found between the IFN-γ levels and the severity of anxiety in GAD patients. Higher level of IL-6 was associated with better response to escitalopram treatment in PDpatients. However, the baseline levels of cytokines were not associated with treatment responses in GAD patients. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that patients with PD may have higher levels of IL-6 than GAD, and higher baseline levels of IL-6 may be a better response to escitalopram in the treatment of PD.
Authors: Sinead Rooney; Anupam Sah; Michael S Unger; Maria Kharitonova; Simone B Sartori; Christoph Schwarzer; Ludwig Aigner; Helmut Kettenmann; Susanne A Wolf; Nicolas Singewald Journal: Transl Psychiatry Date: 2020-07-30 Impact factor: 6.222