Lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptor binding in panic disorder.

Lymphocyte beta adrenergic receptor binding using [125I]CNP was determined in patients with panic disorder (N = 4) or agoraphobia with panic attacks (N = 17) and age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (N = 22). The patients showed a significantly lower number of beta-adrenergic receptor binding sites and a significantly higher affinity of binding than healthy subjects. A past or present history of major depression in the patients did not alter these findings. These results are consistent with a growing body of knowledge implicating noradrenergic dysfunction in the pathophysiology of panic anxiety.