The Biochemistry of Anxiety

Pitts, Ferris N.

doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0269-69

Cited by 75 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…Morgan's investigation of the actue effects of physical activity on anxiety was prompted by the Pitts-McClure hypothesis (Pitts, 1969;Pitts & McClure, 1967). This hypothesis proposes that anxiety symptoms and attacks in anxiety neurotics are provoked by the IION,AND EXERCISE 141 accumulation of lactate, an exercise metabolite.…”

Section: Acute Exercise and Anxietymentioning

confidence: 99%

Anxiety, Depression, and Exercise

Mihevic

1981

Quest

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Section: Acute Exercise and Anxietymentioning

confidence: 99%

Anxiety, Depression, and Exercise

Mihevic

1981

Quest

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“…Naturally occurring panic attacks are sup pressed by imipramine and phenelzine [24,28,30], Lactate anxiety states in panic disor der patients are also suppressed by imipra mine and phenelzine [2,23], Propranolol, a (3-antagonist, does not suppress lactate anxi ety states [5] but may suppress anxiety states that occur during isoproterenol infusions [17], Lactate and isoproterenol anxiety states may be clinically similar but occur by differ ent mechanisms through a common path way. The prevention of isoproterenol anxiety states by imipramine would provide some evidence for this possibility.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An un known defect of aerobic or anaerobic metab olism may also account for the symptoms [11]. The lactate anion may complex calcium at the surfaces of excitable membranes, pro ducing local hypocalcemia with symptoms of muscular irritability, tetany, and anxiety [14,28,29], Finally, many of the symptoms are similar to the pharmacological effects of in travenously administered epinephrine, sug gesting the adrenergic nervous system may be involved [3], Anxiety states resembling panic attacks occur during intravenous infusions of so dium lactate in 75-90% of patients with anx iety neurosis/panic disorder and 0-20% of nonpsychiatric control subjects [2,5,25,29], This finding is directly or indirectly related to three of the hypotheses of panic attack patho genesis -that is, lactate produces a metabolic alkalosis, is a product of the intermediary metabolism of carbohydrates, and can com plex free calcium as calcium lactate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comparison of Lactate and Isoproterenol Anxiety States

et al. 1984

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Both sodium lactate and isoproterenol can produce anxiety symptoms in patients with panic attacks. We administered both substances intravenously under placebo-controlled, double-blind conditions to patients with panic attacks and normal control subjects. We measured changes in anxiety levels using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and a Panic Severity Scale. Measurements of respiratory rate and blood pH, pO₂ pCO₂, HCO₃, and base excess were used to determine the relationship of hyperventilation to the symptoms induced by the infusions. Heart rate, epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were measured to determine whether there are changes related to palpitations and chest pain. Finger temperature and galvanic skin response were monitored to see whether any changes correlate with subject reports of hot or cold flashes and sweating. In this presentation, we will describe the clinical and biochemical changes that occur during panic attacks.

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“…Stress research has shown, however, that individuals vary considerably in their emotional response to the same stressor (Pitts, 1969). This marked variation has also been noted for student pilots (Melton et al, 1975).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%