Decreased GABA levels in anterior cingulate and basal ganglia in medicated subjects with panic disorder: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) study.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration and its relationship with clinical variables in patients with panic disorder (PD). Single voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) scan was performed on 22 medicated subjects with PD and 25 age and sex-matched healthy comparison subjects. GABA and other metabolite levels were measured in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and basal ganglia. GABA levels were significantly lower in the ACC and basal ganglia of PD patients relative to comparison subjects. Lactate and choline concentrations in the ACC in PD patients were also higher than in the comparison subjects. Our data suggested in part that alterations of the GABA function and the energy metabolism in ACC and basal ganglia may play an important role in the pathophysiology of panic disorder.
Ham
Byung-Joo
BJ
Department of Psychiatry, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
Sung
Younghoon
Y
Kim
Namkug
N
Kim
Seog Ju
SJ
Kim
Jieun E
JE
Kim
Dajung J
DJ
Lee
Jeeyoung Y
JY
Kim
Jihyun H
JH
Yoon
Sujung J
SJ
Lyoo
In Kyoon
IK
D000328:Adult; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011522:Protons; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
D011522:Protons; D019344:Lactic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D002794:Choline