Anxiety and β-adrenergic receptor function in a normal population

Abstract

Many studies have shown a close relationship between anxiety and β-adrenergic receptor function in patients with anxiety disorders. This study examined the relationship between β-adrenergic receptor function and anxiety levels in a normal population. Subjects for this study included 36 men and 44 women between the ages of 20 and 40 years whose Body Mass Index (BMI) was between 18 and 26. All of them were healthy subjects who had no previous history of medical or psychiatric illnesses. The authors measured the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Chronotropic 25 Dose (CD 25) of isoproterenol, previously developed to assess in vivo β-adrenergic receptor sensitivity. We also examined correlations between log normalized CD 25 and mood states. The mean of CD 25 was 2.64 ± 1.37 μg and the mean of CD 25 in men was significantly higher (i.e., lower β-adrenergic receptor sensitivity) than that of women (3.26 ± 1.35 vs. 2.14 ± 1.17 μg; t = 3.99, p < 0.001). CD 25 showed negative correlations with STAI state anxiety ( r = − 0.344, p = 0.002), trait anxiety ( r = − 0.331, p = 0.003), and BDI ( r = − 0.283, p = 0.011). CD 25 was positively correlated with BMI ( r = 0.423, p < 0.001) and age ( r = 0.271, p = 0.015). In stepwise multiple regression analyses, 34% of the variance in CD 25 was accounted for by sex, state anxiety, and BMI. The sensitivity of β-adrenergic receptors increased as anxiety levels became higher in a normal population. Thus, the relationship between anxiety and β-adrenergic receptor function in healthy subjects may be different from that of patients with anxiety disorders.