title: Influence of clonidine on psychopathological, endocrine and respiratory effects of cholecystokinin tetrapeptide in patients with panic disorder.
abstract: The influence of clonidine pretreatment on psychopathological, endocrine and respiratory effects of cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK-4) was characterized. Patients with panic disorder (DSM-III-R) were given 50 micrograms CCK-4 i.v. at 1100 hours on 2 separate study days. In a randomized double-blind design they were additionally infused with 150 micrograms clonidine or placebo from 1040 to 1110 hours. After CCK-4 all patients experienced symptom attacks. No effects of clonidine on panic psychopathology or blood gas parameters were observed. After CCK-4, in the clonidine condition the pituitary release of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and prolactin was seemingly enhanced compared to placebo. Our results suggest that CCK-4-induced panic attacks are not suppressible by presynaptic alpha-2 receptor stimulation. Moreover, they point to a synergistic postsynaptic action of clonidine to CCK-4 upon pituitary hormone secretion. The diverging sites of action might possibly explain the discrepancies of psychopathological alterations and stress hormone secretion.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany. eboll@mpipsykl.mpg.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kellner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yassouridis
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jahn
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wiedemann
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects*; D013758:Tetragastrin / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D013758:Tetragastrin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D003000:Clonidine; D006854:Hydrocortisone