The areas of the brain affected in panic disorder (advanced)
Hyperactive neurotransmitter circuits between the cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus and peri-adqueductal grey matter have been implicated in panic disorder. Hypofunction of serotonergic neurones arising from the rostral raphe nucleus may result in a lack of inhibitory effect on the putative panic pathways in the brain. While, overactivity of noradrenergic neurones arising from the locus coeruleus may produce excessive excitation in the regions implicated in panic disorder. Physiological symptoms of the panic response are medicated by the autonomic nervous system through connections with the locus coeruleus and hypothalamus.
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References
J Clin Psychiatry 1997;58(suppl. 2):4–11.
J Clin Psychiatry 2000;61(Suppl. 5):24–29.