Use of antagonists of growth hormone or growth hormone receptor to prevent or treat stress-sensitive psychiatric illness
The invention relates to methods for treating stress sensitive condition. For instance a subject having or at risk of having a stress-sensitive condition may be treated with a growth hormone (GH) antagonist in an effective amount to treat the stress sensitive condition. The GH antagonist may be, for instance, a growth hormone receptor (GHR) antagonist.
1. A method for treating a stress sensitive condition, comprising administering to a subject having or at risk of having a stress sensitive condition a growth hormone (GH) antagonist in an effective amount to treat the stress sensitive condition, wherein the stress sensitive condition is a stress sensitive disorder selected from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorders, or trichotillomania.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the GH antagonist is a growth hormone receptor (GHR) antagonist.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the GHR antagonist is a protein growth hormone receptor antagonist and is pegvisomant (SOMAVERT®), B2036, B2036-PEG, G120R, G120RhGH, or analogs thereof.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stress sensitive disorder is PTSD.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein subject has been associated with military service or a natural disaster.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the GH antagonist is administered systemically.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the GH antagonist is administered while the subject is experiencing the stress.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the GH antagonist is administered only during the time that the subject is experiencing the stress.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the GH antagonist is administered to the subject in a sustained release device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the GH antagonist is administered to the subject orally.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the GH antagonist is administered to the subject intravenously.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the GH antagonist is administered before, during and/or after exposure of the subject to chronic stress.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the GH antagonist is delivered to the amygdala.
14. A method for treating a stress sensitive condition, comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of a growth hormone (GH) antagonist, wherein the stress sensitive condition is bipolar disorder.