Elsevier

Psychiatry Research

Volume 30, Issue 3, December 1989, Pages 231-242
Psychiatry Research

Caffeine taste test for panic disorder: Adenosine receptor supersensitivity

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(89)90014-0Get rights and content

Abstract

The present study introduces a novel measure of adenosine receptor sensitivity that is based on the action of specific receptor blockers (e.g., caffeine) to potentiate the ability to detect threshold guinine concentrations. The test is used to compare gustatory adenosinergic responses to caffaine challenges in normal controls and patients with panic disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Panic disorder patients had an exaggerated response to the caffeine challenge that was not found in controls or PTSD patients, although the latter had higher anxiety scores on psychometric tests. The results are related to a model in which A1-adenosine receptors up-regulate in an attempt to modulate hyperactive excitatory neuronal systems.

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      Similar observations have been made in social phobics fearing public performance situations, although with mixed results for generalized social anxiety cases (Nardi et al., 2008; Aouizerate et al., 2004). This, with other studies directly measuring adenosine receptor activity with caffeine administration, have strongly suggested a link between fear of physical symptoms and a particular sensitivity to caffeine-induced neural activity at adenosine receptor sites (DeMet et al, 1989; Nardi et al., 2008). In order to better parse out how caffeine may impact the fear and alarm circuitry, several studies have used caffeine challenge tasks with individuals meeting criteria for panic disorder.

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    Edward DeMet, Ph.D., is Associate Professor in Residence

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