A PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL OF L-365,260, A CCKB ANTAGONIST, IN PANIC DISORDER

The functional role of cholecystokinin in the central nervous system i s unknown. The tetra peptide CCK-4 was previously observed to induce p anic attacks in a majority of normal volunteers and patients with pani c disorder. Furthermore, it had been demonstrated that pretreatment wi th 10-50 mg of L-365,260, a selective CCKB antagonist, blocked CCK-4 i nduced panic in patients with panic disorder. Therefore, the present m ulticenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial was designed to inv estigate the efficacy of L-365,260, a CCKB antagonist, in patients wit h panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, Following a 1-week, sing le-blind placebo period 88 patients were randomized to double-blind tr eatment in which they received either L-365,260, 30 mg qid, or placebo for 6 weeks. At the dose tested, there were no clinically significant differences between L-365,260 and placebo in global improvement ratin gs, Hamilton anxiety rating scale scores, panic attack frequency, pani c attack intensity, or disability measures. The possible reasons for l ack of effect with L-365,260 ave discussed.