Effects of the GABA-reuptake inhibitor tiagabine on panic and anxiety in patients with panic disorder.
BACKGROUND
There is evidence that a decreased GABAergic tone plays a role in the pathophysiology of panic disorder (PD). Selective GABAergic treatment has been suggested as a new therapeutic strategy in PD. In this pilot-study anxiolytic effects of the GABA reuptake inhibitor tiagabine (TGB) were investigated in PD.


METHODS
A total of 19 patients were treated with TGB (n=10) or placebo (n=9) for 4 weeks. PAS, HAM-A, and CGI ratings were administered every week. To further assess specific antipanic activity, panic challenges with CCK-4 were carried out in single subjects.


RESULTS
Although there was a significant reduction of clinical rating scores over time, no differences were detected between the groups. However, during challenge experiments TGB treated subjects showed decreased sensitivity to CCK-4.


CONCLUSIONS
Whereas tiagabine did not show beneficial effects on clinical symptoms in PD compared to placebo, results of challenge experiments suggest effects of TGB on sensitivity to experimentally induced panic.
Zwanzger
P
P
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Munster, Germany. zwanzger@ukmuenster.de
Eser
D
D
Nothdurfter
C
C
Baghai
T C
TC
Möller
H-J
HJ
Padberg
F
F
Rupprecht
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009557:Nipecotic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010200:Panic / Q000187:drug effects*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000078308:Tiagabine; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D018755:GABA Agonists; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; D009557:Nipecotic Acids; D000078308:Tiagabine