Dopamine transporter binding in females with panic disorder may vary with clinical status.
BACKGROUND
To date the involvement of dopamine system in neurobiology of panic disorder (PD) has been not investigated by imaging studies in humans. In this study, we evaluated the binding potential of dopamine transporter (DAT) in striatum of patients with PD.


METHODS
Subjects comprised seven female patients with current PD, seven female PD patients in remission and seven female healthy controls, matched by age. Striatal DAT binding was evaluated using single-photon emission computed tomography and [(123)I]nor-beta-CIT tracer.


RESULTS
Significantly higher DAT binding in striatum was detected in remitted PD females as compared with both currently ill PD and control females. The females with current PD demonstrated non-significant lowering in striatal DAT binding as compared with healthy controls. The correlation analysis in total sample of female patients showed significant and inverse relationship between striatal DAT binding characteristics and severity of panic symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
This is first report showing that DAT binding in striatum may depend on the clinical status in females with PD. Our data suggest that increased level of DAT may contribute to stability of remission; however, the exact involvement of dopamine system in PD pathogenesis requires further investigations. The preliminary results of current study should be confirmed by other independent studies and should also be extended to include male patients.
Maron
Eduard
E
Department of Psychiatry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. Eduard.Maron@kliinikum.ee
Nutt
David J
DJ
Kuikka
Jyrki
J
Tiihonen
Jari
J
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001931:Brain Mapping; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds