The Galway Study of Panic Disorder. II: Changes in some peripheral markers of noradrenergic and serotonergic function...

Sixty six patients with panic disorders, fulfilling the DSM III criteria for panic attack, together with a group of age and sex matched controls, were studied for changes in their peripheral noradrenergic and serotonergic status before treatment and during six months treatment with either clomipramine or lofepramine. The results of this study suggest that, despite clinical improvement, the peripheral markers of both adrenergic (platelet aggregation to noradrenaline, platelet alpha 2 receptor density and lymphocyte beta receptor density) and serotonergic (platelet aggregation to serotonin, 3H-ketanserin binding to platelet 5HT2 receptors and 3H-5HT uptake into platelets) function largely remained abnormal. It is concluded that such abnormalities are trait markers of biogenic amine function in patients with panic attack. Further studies are needed to determine whether or not these parameters eventually normalize in those patients showing prolonged remission of symptoms.