A cerebrospinal fluid study of the pathophysiology of panic disorder associated with alcoholism.
In order to investigate the neurochemistry of panic disorder in alcoholics, we measured various cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters in subjects with both conditions and compared them with an age- and sex-matched population of alcoholics and normal controls. When height, age and weight were covaried, subjects with panic disorder had higher levels of B-endorphin in CSF. There were no differences in other CSF measures between the groups. Alcoholics with panic disorder had higher plasma MHPG concentrations compared with alcoholics without panic disorder but these were not statistically different from controls.
Laboratory of Clinical Studies National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
D T
DT
George
B
B
Adinoff
B
B
Ravitz
D J
DJ
Nutt
J
J
De Jong
W
W
Berrettini
I N
IN
Mefford
E
E
Costa
M
M
Linnoila
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D026261:Diazepam Binding Inhibitor; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D010200:Panic / Q000502:physiology*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
D026261:Diazepam Binding Inhibitor; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D009638:Norepinephrine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid