Brain Circulation during Panic Attack: A Transcranial Doppler Study with Clomipramine Challenge
Joint Authors
Rotella, Francesco
Faravelli, Carlo
Marinoni, Marinella
Lejeune, Francesca
Alari, Fabiana
Depinesi, Daniela
Cosci, Fiammetta
Source
Issue
Vol. 2014, Issue 2014 (31 Dec. 2014), pp.1-6, 6 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2014-03-16
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
6
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Introduction.
Cerebral blood flow has been well studied in patients with panic disorder, but only few studies analyzed the mechanisms underlying the onset of a panic attack.
The aim of the present study was to monitor the cerebral hemodynamics modifications during a panic attack.
Materials and Methods.
10 panic disorder patients with recent onset, fully drug naïve, were compared to 13 patients with panic disorder with a previous history of treatment and to 14 controls.
A continuous bilateral monitoring of mean flow velocities in right and left middle cerebral arteries was performed by transcranial Doppler.
Clomipramine was chosen as challenge.
Results.
Eight out of 10 patients drug naïve and 6 control subjects out of 13 had a full blown panic attack during the test, whereas none of the patients with a history of treatment panicked.
The occurrence of a panic attack was accompanied by a rapid decrease of flow velocities in both right and left middle cerebral arteries.
Discussion.
The bilateral acute decrease of mean flow velocity during a panic attack suggests the vasoconstriction of the microcirculation of deep brain structures perfused by middle cerebral arteries and involved in the so-called “fear circuitry,” thus suggesting that cerebral homeostatic dysfunctions seem to have a key role in the onset of a panic attack.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Rotella, Francesco& Marinoni, Marinella& Lejeune, Francesca& Alari, Fabiana& Depinesi, Daniela& Cosci, Fiammetta…[et al.]. 2014. Brain Circulation during Panic Attack: A Transcranial Doppler Study with Clomipramine Challenge. Psychiatry Journal،Vol. 2014, no. 2014, pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1047370
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Rotella, Francesco…[et al.]. Brain Circulation during Panic Attack: A Transcranial Doppler Study with Clomipramine Challenge. Psychiatry Journal No. 2014 (2014), pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1047370
American Medical Association (AMA)
Rotella, Francesco& Marinoni, Marinella& Lejeune, Francesca& Alari, Fabiana& Depinesi, Daniela& Cosci, Fiammetta…[et al.]. Brain Circulation during Panic Attack: A Transcranial Doppler Study with Clomipramine Challenge. Psychiatry Journal. 2014. Vol. 2014, no. 2014, pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1047370
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1047370