PET STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF PCT FOR PANIC DISORDER ON BRAIN FUNCTION

该子项目是利用NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为中心机构，不一定为研究者机构。许多神经影像学研究表明，焦虑症患者，包括惊恐障碍患者，在急性焦虑和恐惧期间表现出PFC活动的减少。特别是，PFC的一个子区域，眶额皮质（OFC），似乎容易出现这种现象。在目前提出的初步研究中，我们将首先使用PET扫描来证明，与正常对照组相比，惊恐障碍患者在使用呼吸兴奋剂多沙普仑诱导惊恐发作之前和期间显示出OFC活动减少和杏仁核活动增加。然后，我们将试图表明，成功的治疗恐慌症与恐慌控制疗法（PCT）将正常化这些反应在重复PET扫描和doxapram管理。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. A number of neuroimaging studies have now shown that patients with anxiety disorder, including those with panic disorder, show a reduction in PFC activity during acute anxiety and fear. In particular, a subregion of PFC, the orbital frontal cortex (OFC), seems prone to this phenomenon. In the present proposed pilot study we will use PET scans first to demonstrate that compared to normal controls, patients with panic disorder show decreased activity in the OFC and increased activity in the amygdala before and during the induction of a panic attack with the respiratory stimulant doxapram. Then, we will attempt to show that successful treatment of panic disorder with Panic Control Therapy (PCT) will normalize these responses during repeat PET scan and doxapram administration.