Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Psychophysiological and biochemical changes in patients with panic attacks in a defined situational arousal

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A group of 27 patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia were compared with 10 control subjects before stress exposure. No statistically significant differences between patients and controls were found for the cardiovascular parameters. Skin conductance level and skin conductance reaction were significantly higher in the patient group. They also showed higher self-ratings in behavioural symptoms associated with anxiety. There were statistically significant higher venous plasma levels of norepinephrine in patients than in controls, although the epinephrine levels were similar. The number of binding sites of α2 and the affinity of3H-yohimbine to the α2-receptors on intact thrombocytes was statistically significantly lower in patients 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 overshooting activation of the noradrenergic pathway in patients with panic disorder, possibly based on a dysregulation of α2-receptor

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackenheil M Fröhler M, Goldig G et al (1982) Catecholaminbestimmung in Blut und Liquor mit Hochdruckflüssigkeitschromatographie. Arzneimittelforschung/Drug Res 32:893

    Google Scholar 

  • Albus M (1987) Psychiatric patients and their responses to experimental stress. Stress Medicine 3:233–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Albus M (1990) Psychophysiologie von Angsterkrankungen. Nervenarzt 61:639–646

    Google Scholar 

  • Albus M, Stahl S, Müller-Spahn F, et al (1986) Psychophysiological differentiation of two types of anxiety and its pharmacological modification by minor transquilizer and beta-receptor-blocker. Biol Psychol 23:39–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Albus M, Zahn TP, Breier A (1992) Anxiogenic properties of yohimbine. I. Behavioural, physiological and biochemical measures. Eur Arch Psychiatry Neurol Sci 241:337–344

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association (1987) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-III-R) 3 rd edn., revised. American Psychiatric Association, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrade R, Aghajanian GK (1984) Single cell activity in the noradrenergic A-5 region: Responses to drugs and peripheral manipulations of blood pressure. Brain Res 242:125–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballenger JC, Peterson GA, Laraia M, et al (1984) A study of plasma catecholamines in agoraphobia and the relationship of serum tricyclic levels to treatment response. In: Ballenger JC (ed) Biology of agoraphobia. American Psychiatric Press, Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bond AJ, James DC, Lader MH (1974) Physiological and psychological measures in anxious patients. Psychol Med 4:364–373

    Google Scholar 

  • Bondy B, Ackenheil M, Albus M, et al (1988) Adrenoceptor sensitivity in blood cells of anxiety patients: a predictor for stress response? In: Usdin E, Kopin IJ, Barchas J (eds) Progress in catecholamine research. Part C: clinical aspects, Alan R Liss, New York, pp 393–397

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodde O, Daul A, O'Hara D (1984) β-Adrenoceptor changes in human lymphocytes, induced by dynamic exercise. Arch Pharmacol 325:190–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron OG, Smith CB, Hollingworth PJ et al (1984) Platelet alpha-2-adrenergic receptor binding and plasma catecholamines before and during imipramine treatment in patients with panic anxiety. Arch Gen Psychiatry 41:1144–1148

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron OG, Smith CB, Lee MA, et al (1990) Adrenergic status in anxiety disorders: Platelet alpha2-adrenergic receptor binding, blood pressure, pulse and plasma catecholamines in panic and generalized anxiety disorder patients and in normal subjects. Biol Psychiatry 28:3–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Cedarbaum JM, Aghajanian GK (1977) Catecholamine receptor on locus coeruleus neurons. Eur J Pharmacol 44:375–385

    Google Scholar 

  • Charney DS, Heninger GR, Breier A (1984) Noradrenergic function in panic anxiety: effects of yohimbine in healthy subjects and patients with agoraphobia and panic disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry 41:751–763

    Google Scholar 

  • Charney DS, Heninger GR (1986) Abnormal regulation of noradrenergic function in panic disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry 43: 1042–1054

    Google Scholar 

  • Charney DS, Woods SW, Goodman WK et al (1987) Neurobiological mechanisms of panic anxiety: biochemical and behavioural correlates of yohimbine-induced panic attacks. Am J Psychiatry 144(8):1030–1036

    Google Scholar 

  • Charney DS, Woods SW, Krystall JH, et al (1992) Noradrenergic neuronal dysregulation in panic disorders: the effects of intravenous yohimbine and clonidine in panic disorder patients. Acta Psychiatr Scand 86:273–282

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowley DS, Hyde TS, Dager SR, et al (1987) Lactate infusions: the role of baseline anxiety. Psychiatry Res 21:169–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Daiguji M, Meltzer HY, U'Pritchard DC (1981) Human platelet alpha-2-adrenergic receptors: labeling with 3-H-yohimbine, a selective antagonist ligand. Life Sci 28:2705–2717

    Google Scholar 

  • Erdmann G, Janke W, Bisping R (1984) Wirkungen und Vergleich der Wirkungen von vier experimentellen Belastungsreaktionen. Z Exp Angew Psychol 4:521–543

    Google Scholar 

  • Fahrenberg J, Walschburger P, Förster F, et al (1979) Psychophysiologische Aktivierungsforschung. Ein Beitrag zu den Grundlagen der multivarianten Emotions- und Stresstheorie. Minerva Verlag, München

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankenhäuser M, Dunne E, Lundberg U (1976) Sex differences in sympathetic-adrenal medullary reactions induced by different stressors. Psychopharmacology 47:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • freedman RR, Ianni P, Ettedgui E, et al (1984) Psychophysiological factors in panic disorder. Psychopathology 17(1):66–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Fröhler M, Saito Y, Ackenheil M, et al (1985) Catecholaminergic binding sites on blood cells of healthy volunteers with special respect to circadian rhythms. Pharmacopsychiatry 1:147–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Fröhler M, Saito Y, Ackenheil M, et al (1986) Circadian rhythm of catecholaminergic binding sites on blood cells of healthy volunteers. Psychiatry Psychobiol 1(4):309–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney A, Fenton B, Lane L, et al (1988) Hemodynamics, ventilatory and biochemical responses of panic patients and normal controls with sodium lactate infusions and spontaneous panic attacks. Arch Gen Psychiatry 45:53–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasic S, Grünberger J, Korn A, et al (1985) Biochemical, physical and psychological findings in patients suffering from cardiac neurosis. Neuropsychobiology 13:12–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart JD (1974) Physiological responses of anxious and normal subjects to simple signal and non-signal auditory stimuli. Psychophysiology 11:443–451

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang YH, Redmond DE, Snyder DR, Maas JW (1976) Loss of fear following bilateral lesions of the locus coeruleus in the monkey. Neurosci Abst 2:573–577

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansson G (1972) Sex differences in the catecholamine output of children. Acta Physiol Scand 85:569–572

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansson G, Post B (1974) Catecholamine output of males and females over a one-year period. Acta Physiol Scand 92:557–565

    Google Scholar 

  • Kralik PM, Ho BT, Mathew RJ, et al (1982) Effects of adrenaline administration on platelet MAO of anxious and normal subjects. Neuropsychobiology 8:205–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Lacey JI (1967) Somatic response patterning and stress: some revisions of activation theory. In: Appley MH, Trumbull R (eds) Psychological Stress. Appleton Century Croft, New York, pp 14–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Lader MH, Wing L (1966) Physiological measures, sedative drugs, and morbid anxiety. Oxford University Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason JW, Maher JT, Hartley LH, et al (1976) Selectivity of corticosteroids and catecholamine responses to various natural stimuli. In Serban G (ed) Psychopathology of human adaptation. Plenum Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathew RJ, Ho BT, Kralik PM, et al (1981) Catecholamines and monoamine oxidase activity in anxiety. Acta Psychiatr Scand 63(3):245–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore RY, Bloom FE (1979) Central catecholamine systems: Anatomy and physiology of the norepinephrine and the epinephrine system. Annu Rev Neurosci 2:113–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Motulsky HJ, Shattil SJ, Insel PA (1980) Characterization of adrenergic receptors on human platelets using 3-H-yohimbin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 97:1562–1570

    Google Scholar 

  • Nashold BS, Wilson WP, Slaughter G (1974) The mibdrain and pain. Adv Neurol 4:191–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Nassif S, Kempf E, Cardo B, Velley L (1983) Neurochemical lesion of the locus coeruleus of the rat does not suppress the sedative effect of clonidine. Eur J Pharmacol 91:69–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Nesse RM, Cameron OG, Curtis GC, et al (1984) Adrenergic function in patients with panic anxiety. Arch Gen Psychiatry 41: 771–776

    Google Scholar 

  • Nesse RM, Curtis GC, Thyer BA, et al (1985) Endocrine and cardiovascular responses during phobic anxiety. Psychosom Med 47:320–332

    Google Scholar 

  • Norman TR, Moises NM, Waterhouse BD, et al (1987) Platelet3H-rauwolfscine binding in patients with panic attacks. Psychiatry Res 22:43–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Papp LA, Martinez J, Gorman JM (1988) Letter: arterial epinephrine levels in panic disorders. Psychiatry Res 25:111–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry BD, U'Pritchard DC (1984) Alpha-adrenergic receptors in neural tissues: methods and applications of radioligand binding assays. In Marangos PJ, Campbell IC, Cohen RM (eds) Brain receptor methodologies. Academic Press, New York, pp 255–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Rachman S, Lopatka C Levitt K (1988) Experimental analysis of panic-II: panic patients. Behav Res Ther 26(1):33–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Redmond DE, Huang YH Snyder DR, Maas JW, Baulu J (1976) Behavioural changes following lesions of the locus coeruleus in Macaca arctoides. Neurosci Abst 1:472–479

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson JW, Whitsett SF, Kaplan BJ (1987) The stability of physiological reactivity over multiple sessions. Biol Psychol 24:129–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal HE (1967) A graphic method for the determination and presentation of binding parameters in a complex system. J Anal Biochem 20:525–532

    Google Scholar 

  • Roth WT, Telch MJ, Taylor CB, et al (1986) Autonomic characteristics of agoraphobia with panic attacks. Biol Psychiatry 21: 1133–1154

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanderson WC, Rapee RM, Barlow DH (1989) The influence of an illusion of control on panic attacks induced via inhalation of 5.5% carbon dioxide-enriched air. Arch Gen Psychiatry 46: 157–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Scatchard G (1949) The attraction of proteins for small molecules and ions. Annu Rev NY Acad Sci 51: 590–672

    Google Scholar 

  • Sibley DR, Lefkowitz RJ (1985) Molecular mechanisms of receptor desensitization using the β-adrenergic receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase system as a model. Nature 317:124–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Toews ML, Waldo GL, Harden, et al (1984) Relationship between an altered membrane form and a low affinity from of the β-adrenergic receptor occurring during catecholamine-induced desensitization. Biol Chem 259(19):11844–11850

    Google Scholar 

  • Uhde TW, Boulenger JP, Roy-Byrne PP et al (1985) Longitudinal course of panic disorder: clinical and biological considerations. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 9:39–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Uhde TW, Stein MB, Siever LJ, et al (1989) Behavioural and physiological effects of short-term and long-term administration of clonidine in panic disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry 46:170–177

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Molen P, van den Hout MA, Vromen J, et al (1987) Cognitive determinants of lactate-induced anxiety. Behav Res Ther 24:677–680

    Google Scholar 

  • Villacres EC, Hollifield M, Katon WJ, et al (1987) Sympathetic nervous system activity in panic disorder. Psychiatry Res 21: 313–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldo GL, Northup JK, Perkins JP, et al (1983) Characterization of an altered membrane form of the β-adrenergic receptor produced during agonist-induced desensitization Biol Chem 258(22):13900–13908

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods SW, Charney DS, Goodman WK, et al (1988) Carbon dioxide-induced anxiety. Arch Gen Psychiatry 4:43–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyatt RJ, Portnoy B, Kupfer DJ, et al (1971) Resting catecholamine concentrations in patients with depression and anxiety. Arch Gen Psychiatry 24:65–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeragani V, Balon R, Pohl R (1989) Lactate infusions in panic disorder patients and normal controls: autonomic measures and subjective anxiety. Acta Psychiatr Scand 79:32–40

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Freiburg, Hansastr. 9, D-79104, Freiburg, Germany

    S. Braune

  2. State Mental Hospital Haar, Vockestr. 72, D-85529, Haar, Germany

    M. Albus

  3. BMW AG, Petuelring 130, D-80809, München, Germany

    M. Fröhler

  4. Department of Paediatrics, Hospital of the University of Freiburg, Hugstetterstr., D-79106, Freiburg, Germany

    T. Höhn

  5. Department of Psychotherapy, University of Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, D-40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

    G. Scheibe

Authors
  1. S. Braune
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Albus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Fröhler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. T. Höhn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G. Scheibe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Braune, S., Albus, M., Fröhler, M. et al. Psychophysiological and biochemical changes in patients with panic attacks in a defined situational arousal. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Nuerosci 244, 86–92 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02193524

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02193524

Key words

Search

Navigation