Evaluation of levels of the total antioxidant capacity, paraoxonase, arylesterase and malondialdehyde in patients diagnosed with panic disorder

Aim: Recent studies have increased evidences that oxidative stress and antioxidant systems play a role in the pathogenesis of panic disorder. The aim of this study is firstly comparing healthy controls with panic disorder diagnosed patients, secondly comparing panic disorder subgroup with and without agoraphobia and lastly, comparing three groups seperated as control, with agoraphobia and without agoraphobia based on antioxidan parameters TAC, PON, ARE levels and oxidan MDA level.Material and Metod: This research is performed between October 2009 and October 2010 on gender and age matched 53 control groups with 53 patients who applied to Inonu University Faculty of Medicine Turgut Ozal Medicine Centre Psychiatric Clinic and diagnosed with panic disorder according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. As data collection tools, sociodemographic data form, the Panic Agoraphobia Scale, theHamilton Depression Rating Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale are used. 8-10 cc of blood is taken from patients and control groups between the hours of 08:00 to 09:00 am after fasting for at least 12 hours from the night to biochemistry gel tube. Blood samples were centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 minutes and plasmas are separated. Reserved serums are transferred to dry sterile tubes and stored at -80 Celsius degree. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 16 packet programs.Results: In our study, TAC, PON and ARE antioxidants were significantly lower and MDA was higher according to control group in the PD diagnosed group. When same parameters are compared to PD subgroups with and without agoraphobia, TAS, PON, ARE antioxidants are found significantly lower and MDA oxidant is found significantly higher in subgroup with agoraphobia compared to the subgroup without agoraphobia. When PD subgroups with and without agoraphobia are compared to the control group separately, in the subgroup with agoraphobia, TAC, PON and ARE levels were lower while MDA level was higher. However, compared to control group, in the subgroup without agoraphobia, despite the fact that TAC, PON and ARE were lower and MDA was higher, the levels were not statistically significant. When with agorophobia, without agorophobia and control group are compared among themselves, in group with agorophobia TAC, PON, ARE antioxidans were significantly lower but MDA oxidan was significantly higher than control group and group without agoraphobia. Same parameters were not different among group without agoraphobia and control group.Conclusion: According to the results of our study, in the patients with panic disorder, while the level of oxidative stress marker MDA was higher, the levels of antioxidants (PON, ARE, and TAC) was lower. Compared to control group, the results of higher MDA, lower PON, ARE and TAC in the subgroup with agoraphobia and, in the subgroup without agoraphobia, despite lower TAC, PON, ARE and higher MDA levels, being statistically insignificant indicates that the subgroup with agoraphobia is responsible for the change in the parameters. These findings suggest that increased oxidative stress and damaged antioxidative mechanisms are further increased by the variables which indicates the severity of the illness is increased such as adding agoraphobia in PD, increased number of panic attacks and high HAM-A scores.Key Words: Panic disorder, oxidative stres, oxidative/antioxidative parameters