ABSTRACT
Three groups of patients with morbid fear neurosis, dissimilar in prevailing of either adrenaline or noradrenaline excretion, were identified using the complex method of sympathoadrenal system (SAS) examination. The test with 0.1 g L-DOPA loading demonstrated the high rate of synthesis and high reactivity of SAS in the first two groups with the adrenal type of SAS functioning as well as an increased hydroxylation in the course of synthesis of catecholamines. These anomalies were accompanied by impairments of adrenaline metabolism in the second group. A decreased reactivity of SAS in morning crises and elevated reactivity--during day and evening crises were observed in the third group of patients, characterized by the noradrenaline type of the system functioning as well as by presence of noradrenaline crises.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Cortex/physiopathology , Levodopa , Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/physiopathology , Phobic Disorders/physiopathology , Sympathetic Nervous System/physiopathology , Adult , Dopamine/urine , Epinephrine/urine , Female , Humans , Levodopa/urine , Male , Middle Aged , Norepinephrine/urine , Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/diagnosis , Phobic Disorders/diagnosisABSTRACT
A total of 714 adrenograms (graphic depiction of adrenalin and noradrenalin excretion in relation to the circadian rhythm) obtained from neurotic patients were analyzed. The authors succeeded in ascertaining the differences of their types in patients suffering from hysterical neurosis, neurasthenia and obsessive neurosis. The adrenographic method is believed to be capable of serving as an additional diagnostic criterion in the differential diagnosis of these pathological forms.