PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL-CHANGES IN PATIENTS WITH PANIC ATTACKS IN A DEFINED SITUATIONAL AROUSAL

A group of 27 patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia were compared with 10 control subjects before stress exposure. No sta tistically significant differences between patients and controls were found for the cardiovascular parameters. Skin conductance level and sk in conductance reaction were significantly higher in the patient group . They also showed higher self-ratings in behavioural symptoms associa ted with anxiety. There were statistically significant higher venous p lasma levels of norepinephrine in patients than in controls, although the epinephrine levels were similar. The number of binding sites of al pha2-receptors and the affinity of H-3-yohimbine to the alpha2-recepto rs on intact thrombocytes was statistically significantly lower in pat ients compared to controls. Significant differences between the gender groups of patients and controls were found for electrodermal activity and epinephrine levels. These data add further evidence to an oversho oting activation of the noradrenergic pathway in patients with panic d isorder, possibly based on a dysregulation of alpha2-receptor.