Effects of benzodiazepines on anterior cingulate cortex activity during experimentally induced panic

cholecystokinin-tetrapeptide (CCK-4) induces panic symptoms in healthy human subjects, which closely resemble spontaneously occurring panic attacks in patients and provides a safe, valid and reliable experimental model for the investigation of pathophysiological, neurobiological and pharmacological aspects of panic disorder. Benzodiazepines modulate γaminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors throughout the brain. However, it is not fully understood which brain regions within anxiety related brain circuits are really responsible for their anxiolytic effects and how these regions interact. We therefore investigated whether the benzodiazepine alprazolam affects activity in distinct regions within anxiety related brain circuits in humans by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and experimental induction of panic symptoms with CCK-4.