Glucocorticoid level and neuropsychiatric symptoms in homosexual men with HIV infection

Article Abstract:

There is controversy over whether stress, anxiety, and depression can affect the immune system and therefore health. One of the physiological consequences of stress, anxiety, and depression may be an increase in the production of cortisol, a hormone, within the body. Another consequence may be the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), which consists of three glands (the hypothalamus, the pituitary, and the adrenal) largely responsible for the regulation of chemical and physical changes within the body. Activation of the HPA would increase cortisol production (making increased cortisol level an indicator of activation) and may play a role in immunosuppression. Suppression of the immune system (the body's natural defense mechanism against illness) makes the body less resistant to illness. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can remain inactive in the body for many years. It is not known what actually activates it, but stress, depression, and anxiety are suspected contributing factors. Activation of the virus leads to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Homosexual men who did not meet established criteria for a diagnosis of AIDS were recruited for a study; 113 of the men were HIV-positive and 77 were HIV-negative. Very few suffered depression or anxiety at the onset of the study. Levels of cortisol were measured every six months for five years and were correlated with various mental and physical factors. It was found that increased cortisol levels were linked to increased depression and anxiety, and impaired health. However there was no evidence of continued correlation. This suggests that stress and depression may be brought on by increases in cortisol level, indicative of activation of the HPA, but cortisol level (and possible suppression of the immune system) was not a factor in further deterioration. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Gays, Measurement, Physiological aspects, HIV infection, HIV infections, HIV patients, Stress (Physiology), Hydrocortisone

---

New York State Psychiatric Institute

Article Abstract:

The New York State Psychiatric Institute is America's first psychiatric research institute. It was established by the New York State government in 1895 as a central pathology laboratory for psychiatric research and was called the New York Pathological Laboratory. It was given its present name in 1906 and became an affiliate of the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in 1925. In 1997, the 100-year-old institute will move from the Manhattan location that it has called home since 1925 to a modern new research facility provided by the state government.

History, Psychiatric research, Psychiatric facilities, New York. Psychiatric Institute

---

Drs. Gorman, Shear, McIntyre, and Zarin reply

Article Abstract:

The group responsible for the creation of the 'American Psychiatric Association: practice guideline for the treatment of patients with panic disorder' responds to the criticisms and agreements by various experts on the field. The recommendations contained in the guideline were based on substantial scientific evidences on the subject. The treatment recommendations for panic disorders are reiterated.

Care and treatment, Evaluation, Practice guidelines (Medicine), Panic disorders, Panic disorder

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Assimilation and anticipation in continuous spoken word recognition. Lexical ambiguity resolution and spoken word recognition: bridging the gap
• Abstracts: Correlates of anxiety in psychiatrically hospitalized children and their parents. Developmental perspectives in child and adolescent depressive symptoms in a community sample
• Abstracts: HIV-related symptoms and psychological functioning in a cohort of homosexual men. Study of 60 patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex requiring psychiatric hospitalization
• Abstracts: Cocaine abuse among schizophrenic patients. Late-life onset of panic disorder with agoraphobia in three patients
• Abstracts: Alzheimer's disease and depression: neuropsychological impairment and progression of the illness. Hypersomnia in bipolar depression: a comparison with narcolepsy using the multiple sleep latency test

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.