Effect of alcoholism on the incidence of lactate-induced panic attacks.
BACKGROUND
Chronic alcohol use is associated with higher than expected rates of panic disorder.


METHODS
To study the relationship between alcoholism and panic disorder, we administered the panicogenic agent, sodium lactate, to 26 alcoholics with either panic disorder or frequent panic attacks (ALCPAN), 20 nonalcoholics with panic disorder (PAN), 14 alcoholics without a history of panic attacks, and 14 healthy volunteers.


RESULTS
PAN were significantly more likely to have a lactate-induced panic attack (65%) than ALCPAN (23%). ALCPAN who had the onset of panic attacks prior to alcoholism also had a reduced frequency of lactate-induced panic attacks (26.7%) compared to PAN.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a reduced incidence of lactate-induced panic attacks in ALCPAN. This reduction does not appear to be explained by the relative onset of panic attacks to alcoholism. The role of excessive alcohol consumption in the decreased frequency of lactate-induced panic attacks seen in ALCPAN needs further study.
George
D T
DT
Laboratory of Clinical Studies, DICBR, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1610, USA.
Lindquist
T
T
Ragan
P W
PW
Alim
T
T
Eckardt
M J
MJ
Linnoila
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D006728:Hormones; D019344:Lactic Acid