HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Pentagastrin induced panic attacks: enhanced sensitivity in panic disorder patients.

Abstract
The effects of pentagastrin, a synthetic analogue of the cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK4), were studied in 15 patients with panic disorder and 15 healthy controls. Three different intravenous dosages of pentagastrin (0.1, 0.3 and 0.6 microgram/kg) and saline were investigated. Subjects were randomly allocated to two of the four treatment groups and tested on two separate occasions, 1 week apart, using an unbalanced double-blind incomplete block design. The mean panic rate with pentagastrin was 55% (12/22) for patients and 5% (1/22) for controls. None of the subjects panicked with saline. The frequency of panic attacks between the three pentagastrin doses in patients was not different. One control subject had a panic-like attack at the highest dose of pentagastrin. These findings concur with previous studies on the panicogenic effect of CCK4 and pentagastrin and suggest a greater sensitivity for CCK receptor agonists in patients suffering from panic disorder than in healthy controls.
AuthorsH J van Megen, H G Westenberg, J A den Boer, J R Haigh, M Traub
JournalPsychopharmacology (Psychopharmacology (Berl)) Vol. 114 Issue 3 Pg. 449-55 (Apr 1994) ISSN: 0033-3158 [Print] Germany
PMID7855203 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
Chemical References
  • Serotonin
  • Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol
  • beta-Endorphin
  • Prolactin
  • Cholecystokinin
  • Pentagastrin
  • Melatonin
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Norepinephrine
Topics
  • Adult
  • Cholecystokinin (pharmacology)
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone (blood)
  • Melatonin (blood)
  • Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol (blood)
  • Middle Aged
  • Norepinephrine (metabolism)
  • Panic Disorder (chemically induced, metabolism, psychology)
  • Pentagastrin (pharmacology)
  • Prolactin (blood)
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychometrics
  • Serotonin (metabolism)
  • beta-Endorphin (blood)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: