Cerebrospinal Fluid Monoamine Metabolites and Neuropeptides in Patients with Panic Disorder

Abstract

Concentrations of homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylgycol (MHPG) as well as somatostatin (SRIF) and ß-endorphin (ß-END) were assayed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 34 patients with panic disorder and of ten neurological controls. No aberrations of the monoaminergic or peptidergic variables measured were found in the nonpanic state of patients with panic disorder. A modest correlation (P = 0.04) between total anxiety scores and CSF MHPG was observed.

Key Words:

• CSF
• monoamine metabolites
• neuropeptides
• panic disorder