Evidence map›Paper›PMID 16001108›Full record

Trial reportPsychopharmacology2005

Sex-related elevation in cortisol during chronic treatment with alprazolam associated with enhanced cognitive performance.

Nunzio Pomara, Lisa M Willoughby, James C Ritchie, John J Sidtis, David J Greenblatt, Charles B Nemeroff

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Psychopharmacology, 2005. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 54% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Nunzio PomaraGeriatric Psychiatry Program, Nathan S. Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA. pomara@nki.rfmh.org
Lisa M Willoughby
James C Ritchie
John J Sidtis
David J Greenblatt
Charles B Nemeroff
Emory University · USNew York University · USNathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research · USTufts University · US

Funding

THE PSYCHOBIOLOGY OF CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING FACTORR01MH042088 · NIMH · EMORY UNIVERSITY · PI OWENS, MICHAEL JOSEPH · 1987 to 2008
$2.8M
LORAZEPAM AND ALPRAZOLAM: PERFORMANCE EFFECTS IN ELDERLYR01MH042499 · NIMH · NATHAN S. KLINE INSTITUTE FOR PSYCH RES · PI POMARA, NUNZIO · 1986 to 1993
–
EVALUATING MFGPI PROGRAM FOR PARENTS OF CHILD WITH SEDR29MH052899 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI RUFFOLO, MARY C · 1994 to 1998
–
NIDA NIH HHS DA-05258NIMH NIH HHS MH42088NIMH NIH HHS MH52899NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH42499
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThere is evidence of more widespread use and abuse of benzodiazepines (BZPs) among elderly women. However, factors underlying this observation are poorly understood but could be related to more intense withdrawal reactions, which are a major risk factor for continued BZP use. We previously reported elevations in interdose morning plasma cortisol levels in healthy elderly individuals after chronic treatment with alprazolam, possibly consistent with increased hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and drug withdrawal. In this study, we examined sex-related differences in this population.

methodTwenty-five cognitively intact healthy elderly (13 women and 12 men) participated in a parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that included a group that received acute and chronic (3 weeks) treatment with alprazolam (0.5 mg b.i.d.).

resultsElderly women, but not men, experienced significant elevations in interdose morning plasma cortisol levels over 3 weeks of chronic treatment with alprazolam (0.5 mg b.i.d.) compared to placebo. In addition, higher morning plasma cortisol levels were significantly associated with better cognitive performance but not with higher plasma drug levels or greater degree of tolerance development to an acute alprazolam challenge.

conclusionElderly females experienced a greater interdose activation of the HPA axis during treatment with therapeutic doses of alprazolam than men, which could be related to drug withdrawal.

Indexed as

AgedAlprazolamCognitionDouble-Blind MethodFemaleFlicker FusionHumansHydrocortisoneHypothalamo-Hypophyseal SystemMaleMental RecallMiddle AgedPituitary-Adrenal SystemSex CharacteristicsAlprazolamHydrocortisone

Identifiers

PMID16001108
OpenAlexW2023995131

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.