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Decreased lymphocyte beta-adrenoreceptor function correlates with less agoraphobia and better outcome in panic
R J Maddock1, D W Gietzen, T A Goodman
1Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis.
Abstract:
Previous studies have demonstrated reduced function of peripheral beta-adrenoreceptors in panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA). We recently reported that decreased lymphocyte beta-receptor function was associated with milder agoraphobia and better treatment response in PDA. We now report on lymphocyte beta-receptor function in 12 additional patients with PDA. Lower cyclic AMP responses to isoproterenol were significantly correlated with milder agoraphobia and better response to naturalistic treatment. Lower beta-receptor density tended to correlate similarly with agoraphobia and treatment response. These findings further support the hypothesis that decreased peripheral beta-receptor function in PDA reflects an adaptive process associated with greater resistance to agoraphobia and greater capacity for recovery with treatment.