ELEVATED PLASMA-LEVELS OF NEUROPEPTIDE-Y IN PATIENTS WITH PANIC DISORDER

Objective: Neuropeptide Y is a pancreatic polypeptide closely associat ed with noradrenergic activity both in the central and peripheral nerv ous systems. The objective of this study was to assess plasma neuropep tide Y-like immunoreactivity in panic disorder. Method: Radioimmunoass ays were performed in 12 patients with DSM-III-R panic disorder and tw o groups of normal comparison subjects (N=22 and N=16). Results: Marke dly higher plasma neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity was found in pa tients with panic disorder. Conclusions: Higher plasma neuropeptide Y- like immunoreactivity suggests that this peptide may be implicated in the etiology or expression of symptoms of panic disorder.