Abstract
We have observed a lesser growth hormone response to intravenous clonidine administration in nine obsessive-compulsive disorder patients meeting research diagnostic criteria than in nine matched controls. The obsessive-compulsive disorder patients had higher plasma free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol and plasma norepinephrine levels before clonidine than the controls. As blunted growth hormone responses to clonidine are also characteristic of affective disorder patients, these results support other observations of a psychobiologic affinity between these two groups and are also compatible with an association between increased presynaptic noradrenergic activity and decreased post-synaptic receptor responsiveness.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 184-187 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Unknown Journal |
Volume | 142 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1983 |
Externally published | Yes |