title: Effects of citalopram treatment on behavioural, cardiovascular and neuroendocrine response to cholecystokinin tetrapeptide challenge in patients with panic disorder.
abstract: Eight patients with panic disorder were administered 20 micrograms of cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK-4) before and after 8 weeks of treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram. All patients responded to treatment by showing a significant general improvement and reaching a panic-free state for 2 weeks. At the rechallenge with CCK-4, patients displayed a marked reduction in the intensity and number of panic symptoms. The frequency of panic attacks induced with CCK-4 decreased by 50% after treatment. Citalopram treatment had no substantial effect on cardiovascular (heart rate and blood pressure) or hormonal (cortisol, prolactin and growth hormone) responses to CCK-4. Patients who still had panic attacks after treatment demonstrated a blunted growth hormone response to CCK-4 that was not seen in those who did not have panic attacks. This study suggests that treatment with an SSRI can reduce an enhanced sensitivity to CCK-4 without modifying cardiovascular and neuroendocrine responses to CCK-4 in patients with panic disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shlik
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aluoja
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vasar
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vasar
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Podar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bradwejn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002766:Cholecystokinin; D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors