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Anxiolytic activity of atrial natriuretic peptide in patients with panic disorder
A Ströhle1, M Kellner, F Holsboer
1Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany. stroehle@mpipsykl.mpg.de
Objective:
Preclinical evidence exists for the anxiolytic activity of atrial natriuretic peptide, which is released during lactate-induced panic attacks. Atrial natriuretic peptide receptor modulation may have antipanic activity in patients with panic disorder.
Method:
The effects of 150 microg of atrial natriuretic peptide and placebo on panic attacks induced by cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK-4) (25 microg) were studied in 10 panic disorder patients. The panicogenic activity of CCK-4 was measured with the Acute Panic Inventory.
Results:
Panic attacks occurred in seven patients in the placebo condition and in two patients in the atrial natriuretic peptide condition. CCK-4 administration was accompanied by a significant increase in Acute Panic Inventory scores. Pretreatment with atrial natriuretic peptide resulted in significantly lower Acute Panic Inventory scores than pretreatment with placebo.
Conclusions:
The results support the antipanic activity of atrial natriuretic peptide. Nonpeptidergic atrial natriuretic peptide receptor ligands may be ultimately used to treat anxiety disorders.