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Noradrenergic neuronal dysregulation in panic disorder: the effects of intravenous yohimbine and clonidine in panic disorder patients
Author(s) -
Charney D. S.,
Woods S. W.,
Krystal J. H.,
Nagy L. M.,
Heninger G. R.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1992.tb03266.x
Subject(s) - yohimbine , panic disorder , clonidine , panic , psychology , anxiety disorder , anxiety , medicine , endocrinology , anesthesia , psychiatry , antagonist , receptor
In order to evaluate possible abnormal noradrenergic neuronal functional regulation in patients with panic disorder, the behavioral, biochemical and cardiovascular effects of intravenous yohimbine (0.4 mg/kg) and clonidine (2 μg/kg) were determined in 15 healthy subjects and 38 patients with panic disorder. A subgroup of 24 panic disorder patients were observed to experience yohimbine‐induced panic attacks and had larger yohimbine‐induced increases in plasma 3‐methoxy‐4‐hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) than healthy subjects and other panic disorder patients. A blunted growth hormone response to clonidine and a significant clonidine‐induced decrease in plasma MHPG was also observed in this subgroup of panic disorder patients. These data replicate and extend previous investigations, which are consistent with a large body of preclinical and human data relating increased noradrenergic neuronal function to human anxiety and fear states.