Elevated plasma levels of neuropeptide Y in patients with panic disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Neuropeptide Y is a pancreatic polypeptide closely associated with noradrenergic activity both in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The objective of this study was to assess plasma neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in panic disorder.


METHODS
Radioimmunoassays were performed in 12 patients with DSM-III-R panic disorder and two groups of normal comparison subjects (N = 22 and N = 16).


RESULTS
Markedly higher plasma neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity was found in patients with panic disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher plasma neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity suggests that this peptide may be implicated in the etiology or expression of symptoms of panic disorder.
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Que., Canada.
J P
JP
Boulenger
I
I
Jerabek
F B
FB
Jolicoeur
Y J
YJ
Lavallée
R
R
Leduc
A
A
Cadieux
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D009478:Neuropeptide Y