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The present study was undertaken to investigate if acute anxiety can affect plasma
concentrations of homovanillic acid (pHVA) Since elevated pHVA levels have been associated
with severity of schizophrenic symptoms, the results of this study will help determine
if the pHVA elevations are directly related to psychosis or if anxiety is also a contributory
factor. Anxiety was provoked in 10 young normal subjects by a combined paradigm of
mental arithmetic task and threat of electrical shock. A significant increase in self-ratings
of anxiety, blood pressure, and plasma levels of norepinephrine, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol
and growth hormone indicated that the paradigm used was effective in provoking anxiety;
however, anxiety did not affect pHVA concentrations. The results may support the notion
that increased pHVA levels in severely ill schizophrenic patients are related to the
schizophrenic pathophysiology rather than to anxiety.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Received in revised form:
May 16,
1995
Received:
February 8,
1993
Identification
Copyright
© 1996 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc.
