Low Galanin Serum Levels are Associated with Anxiety in Opioid-Maintained Patients

Aim: Heroin dependence is a raising problem. Methods: We measured serum levels of galanin in opioiddependent patients who received dia(cetyl)morphine (DAM) or (levo-) methadone (POL) in a Swiss (12 DAM) and German sample (55 POL/28 DAM). Behavioral symptoms were measured by psychometric tests (Heroin Craving Questionnaire (HCQ), State-Trait Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition (BDI-II) and Symptom Checklist-27 (SCL-27)). Results: We found significantly decreased galanin serum levels in opioid-dependent patients. The galanin serum levels were significantly lower in the subgroup of levomethadone treated patients compared to the diamorphine subgroup (MD=-2.65, SD=0.48, p<0.001). Furthermore, we found a significant negative association between galanin serum levels and anxiety (STAI-I (r=-0.383, p=0.003) STAI-II (r=-0.299, p=0.022)). Galanin seems to be an important target for modulating stress reactions (e.g. craving, anxiety) in opioid-dependent patients.