A hormone – the key to anxiety?

Studies involving animals have suggested a link between anxiety and corticosteroids. Pilot research by a group of Italian investigators headed by the University of Padova’s Nicoletta Sonino suggests that aldosterone may play a key role in fear and anxiety in humans as well.

Psychosocial factors remain unexplored in primary aldosteronism, with the exception of 3 case reports of Conn’s syndrome presenting as depression. The researchers investigated psychological correlates in primary aldosteronism using methods that were found to be sensitive and reliable in psychosomatic research. Ten consecutive newly diagnosed patients with primary aldosteronism were studied: 5 men and 5 women.

The researchers administered the DSM-IV criteria-establishing interviews to the subjects. Seven patients received both DSM-IV and DCPR (Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research) diagnoses, while 3 had neither. As to DSM-IV, generalized anxiety disorder was found in 6 cases and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in 1.

The most frequent DCPR cluster was demoralization, while persistent somatization was found in 2 cases and irritable mood in 1. The results of this investigation, published in the new issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, shows that the occurrence of anxiety disorders in subjects with primary aldosteronism was much higher than that found in the general population and in primary care settings. Since a link between hyperaldosteronism and anxiety has also been suggested in previous animal studies, it seems worthwhile to gain further knowledge on clinical aspects by larger population studies.

© Copyright 2007 Insight Journal Online Magazine.

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