THE ROLE OF THE BETA-NORADRENERGIC SYSTEM IN CHOLECYSTOKININ-TETRAPEPTIDE-INDUCED PANIC SYMPTOMS

Background: The authors determined whether effective P-adrenergic bloc kade could attenuate the panicogenic effects of cholecystokinin-tetrap eptide (CCK-4) in healthy volunteers, Methods: Subjects were randomly assigned to either a propranolol (n = 14) or placebo (n = 16) infusion . Ten minutes after completion of the infusion subjects received a bol us injection of CCK-4 (50 mu g). Results: Acute pretreatment with prop ranolol was more effective than placebo in decreasing behavioral and c ardiovascular sensitivity to CCK-4, Conclusions: These preliminary res ults suggest that the panicogenic effects of CCK-4 are mediated, in pa rt, through the beta-adrenergic system. (C) 1998 Society of Biological Psychiatry.