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Abstract
Objective: Biomarkers are defined as anatomical, biochemical or physiological traits that are specific to certain disorders or syndromes. The objective of this paper is to summarise the current knowledge of biomarkers for anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Methods: Findings in biomarker research were reviewed by a task force of international experts in the field, consisting of members of the World Federation of Societies for Biological Psychiatry Task Force on Biological Markers and of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Anxiety Disorders Research Network.
Results: The present article (Part II) summarises findings on potential biomarkers in neurochemistry (neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine or GABA, neuropeptides such as cholecystokinin, neurokinins, atrial natriuretic peptide, or oxytocin, the HPA axis, neurotrophic factors such as NGF and BDNF, immunology and CO2 hypersensitivity), neurophysiology (EEG, heart rate variability) and neurocognition. The accompanying paper (Part I) focuses on neuroimaging and genetics.
Conclusions: Although at present, none of the putative biomarkers is sufficient and specific as a diagnostic tool, an abundance of high quality research has accumulated that should improve our understanding of the neurobiological causes of anxiety disorders, OCD and PTSD.
Acknowledgements
The present work was supported by the ADRN within the ECNP-NI.
Katherina Domschke’s work was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG), Collaborative Research Centre “Fear, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders” SFB-TRR-58, projects C02 and Z02.
Statement of interest
Prof. Bandelow has received research funding from European Commission (FP7) and was on the speakers’ and/or advisory board for Actelion, Glaxo, Janssen, Lundbeck, Meiji-Seika, Otsuka, Pfizer, and Servier.
Prof. Baldwin has attended advisory boards for Grunenthal, Eli Lilly, Lundbeck, Pfizer, and Servier. His university has received grants from Lundbeck and Pfizer to support research into anxiety disorders.
Dr. Chamberlain consults for Cambridge Cognition.
Dr. Fineberg has received financial support in various forms from the following: Otsuka, Lundbeck, Glaxo-SmithKline, Servier, Cephalon, Astra Zeneca, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Bris-tol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Medical Research Council (UK), National Institute for Health Research (UK), Wellcome Foundation, European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, UK College of Mental Health Pharmacists, British Association for Psychopharmacology, International College of Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders, International Society for Behavioural Addiction, World Health Organisation, Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Dr. Jarema has been on the speakers’ and/or advisory board for Angelini, Janssen, Lilly, Lundbeck, and Servier.
Prof. Ströhle: Research funding: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), German Research Foundation (DFG), European Commission (FP6), Lundbeck; speaker honoraria: AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lilly, Lundbeck, Pfizer, Wyeth, UCB. Consultant for Actelion. Educational grants: Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft, Berlin Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds, Eli Lilly International Foundation, Janssen-Cilag, Pfizer, and Lilly.
Prof. Thibaut is Editor-in-Chief of Dialogues in Clinical Neurosciences (grant by Servier).
Dr. Wichniak has been on the speakers’ and/or advisory board for Angelini, Janssen, Lundbeck, and Servier.
Prof. Zwanzger was on the speakers’ and/or advisory board for Lundbeck, Pfizer, Servier, Aristo, Merz and Hexal
All other authors reported no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding information
None.