Effect of medroxyprogesterone pretreatment on pentagastrin-induced panic symptoms in females with panic disorder

Clinical observation, as well as epidemiological and research data, suggest that female gonadal hormones influence the course of panic disorder (PD). Panicogenic agents such as pentagastrin are useful tools with which to stud y the pathophysiology of panic attacks. Nine women with PD were randomly as signed to receive, in a crossover design, a 3-day pretreatment with medroxy progesterone acetate (MP) prior to an injection of pentagastrin, and a 3-da y pretreatment with a placebo prior to another injection of pentagastrin. T he panic response and the anxiety response to pentagastrin were decreased a fter MP pretreatment. These preliminary results support the use of laborato ry models for investigations of the interactions between progestins and anx iety. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.