[Neuroanatomy of panic disorder].
OBJECTIVE
Animal model studies may allow greater elucidation of the cerebral circuits involved in the genesis of panic disorder (PD), but these studies have not yet been fully analyzed.


METHODS
The authors review recent literature on the neurobiology and neuroanatomy of PD.


RESULTS
In this update, the authors present a revision of data that demonstrates the existence of a "fear network", which has as its main point the central nucleus of the amygdale and includes the hypothalamus, the thalamus, the hippocampus, the periaqueductal gray region, the locus ceruleus and other brainstem structures. Its existence is evidenced in animal studies of emotional and behavioral states, and its presence and importance can be extrapolated to the study of PD in humans.


CONCLUSIONS
This fear network can allow new progresses and studies using neuroimaging techniques and/or psychopharmacological trials, further elucidating the cerebral circuits of PD.
Mezzasalma
Marco Andre
MA
Laboratório de Pânico e Respiração, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. aenardi@novanet.com.br
Valença
Alexandre M
AM
Lopes
Fabiana L
FL
Nascimento
Isabella
I
Zin
Walter A
WA
Nardi
Antonio E
AE
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D023421:Models, Animal; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000473:pathology*