title: Electroretinogram B-wave amplitude in panic disorder.
abstract: Abnormal light-related behaviors have been described for patients with panic disorder (PD). The present study was undertaken to investigate the retinal light response in PD using electroretinography (ERG). The authors conducted b-wave ERG measurements with a bright light (after dark adaptation) in 28 patients with PD and 28 control subjects. There were no significant differences in the mean b-wave amplitude between the two groups, but the retinal response to light in PD patients was generally lower than in healthy subjects. A large interindividual variability was found; also noted was a significant difference in the mean b-wave amplitude between the right and left eyes in the control group. The data indicate subtle variation of retinal photosensitivity in a subgroup of patients with PD. Because dopaminergic retinal activity affects b-ERG amplitude, the authors hypothesize that the dopaminergic system is involved in the response to light in PD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castrogiovanni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pieraccini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iapichino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pacchierotti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bossini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Truglia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malpassi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Natale