Biological psychiatry
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Biological psychiatry · Jul 2009
Decreased neurokinin-1 (substance P) receptor binding in patients with panic disorder: positron emission tomographic study with [18F]SPA-RQ.
Positron emission tomography (PET) can localize and quantify neurokinin-1 (NK(1)) receptors in brain using the nonpeptide antagonist radioligand, [(18)F]SPA-RQ. We sought to determine if patients with panic disorder have altered density of NK(1) receptors in brain because of their history of recurrent panic attacks. We also sought to determine if a drug-induced panic attack releases substance P in brain, as measured by decreased binding of [(18)F]SPA-RQ. ⋯ Although induction of a panic attack has no significant effect on [(18)F]SPA-RQ binding to NK(1) receptors, patients with panic disorder have widespread reduction of NK(1) receptor binding in brain.