LYMPHOCYTE CHOLECYSTOKININ CONCENTRATIONS IN PANIC DISORDER

Since cholecystokinin (CCK) is known to be anxiogenic in experimental animals an to induce panic attacks in humans, lymphocyte CCK-8 concent rations were measured in 15 patients with panic disorder and 15 age- a nd sex-matched healthy subjects. The patients' levels were measured ag ain after a 30-day course of alprazolam therapy, 1.5 mg/day. The CCK-8 concentrations were significantly lower in the patients than in the c ontrol subjects and did not change after alprazolam therapy. There was no correlation between the peptide values and levels of anxiety or fr equency and severity of panic attacks.