Cardiovascular responses to clonidine in alcohol withdrawal: are they related to psychopathology and mental well-being?

• The possible relationships between alpha-2-adrenoceptor function, as assessed by blood pressure, heart rate, and sedative responses to clonidine (CLON; 1.5 microg/kg, i.v.), and psychopathology and mental well-being were investigated in 19 patients with alcohol-dependence in the early withdrawal period (days 1 and 7). An age-matched control group was used (n=17). CLON-induced maximum reduction of systolic blood pressure was less day 1 in the alcohol-dependent patients compared to controls. CLON was found to induce less sedation at day 7 compared to day 1 and to controls. No relationships were seen between the parameters for alpha-2-adrenoceptor function and psychopathology and mental well-being. These findings suggest that CLON-induced changes in blood pressures and heart rate reflect the cardiovascular situation in alcohol withdrawal and not aspects of behavior.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists

pharmacology

Adult

Affect

drug effects

Alcoholism

blood

physiopathology

psychology

Anxiety

drug therapy

Blood Pressure

drug effects

physiology

Central Nervous System Depressants

adverse effects

Clonidine

pharmacology

Ethanol

adverse effects

Heart Rate

drug effects

physiology

Humans

Male

Mental Disorders

chemically induced

Middle Aged

Pain

drug therapy

Statistics

Nonparametric

Substance Withdrawal Syndrome

blood

psychology

Wakefulness

drug effects

physiology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)