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The role of serotonin in panic: evidence from tryptophan depletion studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2014

A. C. Pyle ,
S. V. Argyropoulos  and
D. J. Nutt
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Abstract

There has been growing interest in the role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in anxiety, including pathological states such as panic disorder. The technique of tryptophan depletion (TD), which causes an acute, temporary and reversible reduction in brain 5-HT levels, is a useful minimally invasive paradigm to aid the research of the role of 5-HT in various disorders. This review discusses the evidence supporting the hypothesis that 5-HT function is of importance in the neurobiology of panic disorder and considers in more detail how our understanding has been influenced by work using the technique of TD. Possible avenues for future research are also discussed.

Keywords

panicserotonintrytophan depletion
Type
Review Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 16 , Issue 2 , April 2004 , pp. 79 - 84
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 Blackwell Munksgaard

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