title: Cerebrospinal fluid gamma-aminobutyric acid in patients with panic disorder.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels were measured in 11 patients with panic disorder (PD) prior to and following 7 months of treatment with alprazolam or imipramine and in six neurological control patients. Although a clear treatment response was observed in patients with PD, neither alprazolam nor imipramine significantly changed CSF GABA during the treatment period. A negative correlation was demonstrated between baseline CSF GABA and posttreatment overt psychopathology. Low pretreatment level of CSF GABA correlated significantly with poor therapeutic outcome, judged by the amount of anxiety and depression as well as by the frequency of panic attacks at the end of follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rimón
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lepola
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jolkkonen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Halonen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riekkinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D018757:GABA Modulators; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D007099:Imipramine; D000525:Alprazolam