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Pentagastrin induced panic attacks: enhanced sensitivity in panic disorder patients
H J van Megen1, H G Westenberg, J A den Boer
1Department of Biological Psychiatry, Academic Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Psychopharmacology
|April 1, 1994
Summary
Pentagastrin, a CCK4 analogue, induced panic attacks in 55% of panic disorder patients but only 5% of controls. This suggests heightened CCK receptor sensitivity in individuals with panic disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Panic disorder is a debilitating psychiatric condition.
- Cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK4) and its analogue pentagastrin are known to induce panic-like symptoms.
- The precise role of CCK receptors in panic disorder pathophysiology remains under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the panicogenic effects of varying intravenous pentagastrin dosages in patients with panic disorder and healthy controls.
- To compare the sensitivity of CCK receptors between panic disorder patients and healthy individuals.
Main Methods:
- An unbalanced double-blind incomplete block design was employed.
- Fifteen patients with panic disorder and 15 healthy controls were randomly assigned to two of four treatment groups (three pentagastrin doses and saline).
- Subjects were tested on two separate occasions, one week apart.
Main Results:
- Pentagastrin induced panic attacks in 55% of panic disorder patients (12/22) and 5% of controls (1/22).
- Saline did not induce panic attacks in any subject.
- No significant difference in panic attack frequency was observed across the three pentagastrin doses in patients.
Conclusions:
- Pentagastrin acts as a panicogenic agent, consistent with previous CCK4 studies.
- Patients with panic disorder exhibit increased sensitivity to CCK receptor agonists compared to healthy controls.
- These findings support the involvement of the CCK system in the neurobiology of panic disorder.