ENHANCED GROWTH-HORMONE RESPONSES TO PYRIDOSTIGMINE CHALLENGE IN PATIENTS WITH PANIC DISORDER

Background Panic disorder is associated with neuroendocrinological abn ormalities, some of which overlap with those seen in major depression. To dale, there has been little assessment of the role of cholinergic mechanisms in this disorder. Method Sixteen patients with DSM-III-R pa nic disorder and an age and gender-matched comparison group were admin istered 120 mg of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor pyridostigmine. G row-th hormone (GH) responses over a three-hour period were monitored. Results Mean Delta GH, the difference between basal and the maximum p yridostigmine levels, was significantly greater in patients with panic disorder than in the comparison group. Conclusions This may reflect i ncreased cholinergic responsivity in panic disorder.