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Oxytocin
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Plasma Oxytocin Linked To Female Fibromyalgia Symptoms 01/10/2001 By David Loshak The neuropeptide oxytocin, together with other neuropeptides and neurotransmitters, may help to integrate the stress axes, monoaminergic systems and pain processing peptides in the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for symptoms in fibromyalgia syndrome. Researchers at Stockholm's Karolinska Institute and other Swedish institutions draw this conclusion from a study to assess oxytocin concentrations in female fibromyalgia syndrome patients with different hormonal status and in depressed and non-depressed patients. The study also aimed to relate oxytocin concentrations to happiness and to such adverse symptoms as pain, stress, depression and anxiety. Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic pain disorder, which affects women in 90 percent of cases. The neuropeptide oxytocin is known to have antinociceptive and analgesic, as well as anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. The study recruited 39 patients and 30 controls who registered symptoms daily for 28 days. Blood samples to assess oxytocin were drawn twice in all participants. Besides the daily ratings, depression was also estimated using the self-rating Beck Depression Inventory. Patients who were depressed according to this measure had lower oxytocin levels than did non-depressed patients and controls. Likewise, according to the daily ratings, patients with high scores for pain, stress and depression had low oxytocin levels, but these subgroups were small. There was a negative correlation between the scored symptoms of depression and anxiety and the oxytocin concentration. There was a positive correlation between happiness and oxytocin concentration. Oxytocin concentrations did not differ between the hormonally different subgroups of patients or controls. Zeitschrift für Rheumatologie 2000; 59(6): 373-379. "Plasma oxytocin levels in female fibromyalgia syndrome patients" |
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