This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (7) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Maron, E. Articles by Shlik, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Maron, E. Articles by Shlik, J. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Effect of 5-Hydroxytryptophan on Cholecystokinin-4-Induced Panic Attacks in Healthy Volunteers

Department of Psychiatry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia., eduard.maron{at}kliinikum.ee

Innar Tõru

Department of Psychiatry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.

Veiko Vasar

Department of Psychiatry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.

Jakov Shlik

Department of Psychiatry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.

Previous studies suggest a modulatory role of serotonin (5-HT) in experimentally-induced panic attacks. In the current study, we investigated the acute effects of 5-HT precursor l-5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) on the response to panicogenic challenge with cholecystokinin-tetrapeptide (CCK-4) in healthy volunteers. Thirty-two subjects were randomized to receive either 200 mg of 5-HTP or placebo with the CCK-4 challenge following in 90 min in a double-blind, parallel-group design. The results showed a nonsignificant difference between the groups in panic rate (19% after 5-HTP and 44% after placebo, p = 0.13) with a trend for lower intensity of symptoms after 5-HTP (p = 0.08). Further analysis by gender revealed that females in the 5-HTP group had a significantly lower panic rate and intensity of cognitive symptoms whereas, in males, the effect of 5-HTP was limited to lowering the intensity of somatic panic symptoms. Thus, an increased availability of 5-HT may have a gender-dependent protective effect in CCK-4-induced panic.

Key Words: 5-hydroxytryptophan • anxiety • cholecystokinin • panic attacks • serotonin

Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 18, No. 2, 194-199 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/0269881104042619


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E Maron, I Toru, K Maemets, S Sepp, V Vasar, J Shlik, and A Zharkovsky CCK-4-induced anxiety but not panic is associated with serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in healthy subjects J Psychopharmacol, June 1, 2009; 23(4): 460 - 464. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Smarius, G. Jacobs, D. Hoeberechts-Lefrandt, M. de Kam, J. van der Post, R de Rijk, J van Pelt, R. Schoemaker, F. Zitman, J. van Gerven, et al. Pharmacology of rising oral doses of 5-hydroxytryptophan with carbidopa J Psychopharmacol, June 1, 2008; 22(4): 426 - 433. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. Mossner, C. M. Freitag, L. Gutknecht, A. Reif, R. Tauber, P. Franke, J. Fritze, G. Wagner, G. Peikert, B. Wenda, et al. The novel brain-specific tryptophan hydroxylase-2 gene in panic disorder J Psychopharmacol, July 1, 2006; 20(4): 547 - 552. [Abstract] [PDF]