Effects of the cholecystokinin agonist pentagastrin in patients with generalized anxiety disorder.

Abstract

The anxiogenic and panicogenic effects of peripheral administration of the cholecystokinin-B receptor agonist pentagastrin and placebo were evaluated in patients with generalized anxiety disorder and normal comparison subjects. Seven patients with generalized anxiety disorder and seven age- and sex-matched normal subjects received an intravenous bolus of placebo and pentagastrin. Panic attacks occurred in five patients with generalized anxiety disorder (71%) and in one normal subject (14%). Patients with generalized anxiety disorder were more likely to report more nonpanic anxiety than were normal subjects. Patients with generalized anxiety disorder appear to exhibit greater subjective sensitivity to pentagastrin than do normal subjects.