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Dissociation between ACTH and cortisol response in DEX-CRH test in patients with panic disorder
Plain-language guide to PMID 22277728 (2012): controlled clinical trial study of ACTH (Corticotropin) and CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) in 32 patients.
Key Facts
- PMID
- 22277728
- Journal
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Year
- 2012
- Study type
- Controlled Clinical Trial
- Authors
- Petrowski K et al. (4 authors)
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.013
What This Study Did, in Plain Language
What Was Tested
Researchers studied ACTH (Corticotropin) and CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) in this controlled clinical trial publication.
For this study, the dexamethasone-corticotropin-releasing-hormone (DEX-CRH) test was implemented to assess the HPA-axis reactivity indicated by the plasma adreno-corticotropin-hormone (ACTH) and the cortisol release.
Why It Was Studied
The findings regarding the stress-specific functioning of the HPA-system are inconsistent.
It is also unclear whether the HPA-system response after the Corticotropin-Releasing-Hormone (CRH) challenge becomes altered.
Who Took Part
According to the abstract, 32 patients were involved.
The age groups tagged for this paper are young adults, adults and middle-aged adults, both men and women.
The sample included 32 patients diagnosed with PD in a Structured Clinical Interview (SCID).
Fourteen male and eighteen female patients, [mean age = 33.50 years, SD = 12.76] were matched with 32 healthy controls by age and gender.
How the Study Was Run
Moreover, a sample of patients with unipolar depression (n = 21, ten females) was examined as a clinical control group.
What Was Measured
The subject headings attached to it are Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Area Under Curve, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, Dexamethasone, Diagnostic Techniques, Endocrine, Hydrocortisone and Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System.
What This Means in Plain Language
This is a controlled clinical trial of ACTH (Corticotropin) and CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) in 32 patients.
With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.
Results are reported in around 5 sentences of the abstract; we leave them to the paper itself rather than summarise them.
The publication is from 2012 (Psychoneuroendocrinology), a journal based in England.
More context: the ACTH (Corticotropin) compound page and the CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) compound page, all human trials.
Our Notes on the Compounds
ACTH (Corticotropin): The 39-amino-acid pituitary hormone that drives cortisol production; given as repository corticotropin (Acthar Gel).
CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone): The 41-amino-acid hypothalamic hormone that triggers ACTH release; corticorelin is used diagnostically.
Related Pages
Source: PubMed record. This explanation is written by PeptideWhiz from the public record. For research and education only. Not medical advice; no dosing information is given.