Platelet imipramine binding and plasma cortisol levels in Israeli civilians during the Gulf War.

[3H] Imipramine binding to platelets and plasma cortisol levels were measured in nine Israeli civilians before, during, and after repeated missile attacks. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were similar before and during the war and decreased significantly after the war. A trend toward increase in platelet imipramine binding values was observed during the war when compared with the postwar values (19%; p = 0.056), and/or when compared with prewar values (26%; p = 0.063). However, one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures did not reveal a significant statistical difference [F (2,6) = p = 2.07; NS] among the three time points. A significant correlation was found between HARS score, but not BDI, and imipramine binding values in the prewar and postwar time points (r = 0.87; 0.71, respectively). Plasma cortisol levels did not alter significantly during the study period.