CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC-ACID IN PATIENTS WITH PANIC DISORDER

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels were m easured in 11 patients with panic disorder (PD) prior to and following 7 months of treatment with alprazolam or imipramine and in six neurol ogical control patients. Although a clear treatment response was obser ved in patients with PD, neither alprazolam nor imipramine significant ly changed CSF GABA during the treatment period. A negative correlatio n was demonstrated between baseline CSF GABA and posttreatment overt p sychopathology, Low pretreatment level of CSF GABA correlated signific antly with poor therapeutic outcome, judged by the amount of anxiety a nd depression as well as by the frequency of panic attacks at the end of follow-up.