title: Noradrenergic neuronal dysregulation in panic disorder: the effects of intravenous yohimbine and clonidine in panic disorder patients.
abstract: 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 micrograms/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.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Service, West Haven Veterans Administration Medical Center, CT 06516.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Charney
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Krystal
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Heninger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003000:Clonidine; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000097:blood; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000502:physiology*; D015016:Yohimbine
chemical_list: D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D015016:Yohimbine; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D013006:Growth Hormone; D003000:Clonidine; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine