Neuroimaging in patients with panic disorder / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

ABSTRACT

Panic disorder (PD) is characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks and fear of dying or losing control, which negatively influences the social functioning and life quality of the patients. The neurobiological mechanisms underlying PD have not been clearly understood. Previous opinion held that hyperactivity of the fear network which included amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, brain stem and so on and dysfunction of prefrontal cortex underlay PD. Summarizing recent advances on magnetic resonance imaging studies in PD, this review focuses on the functional, structural and metabolic neuroanatomical alterations in the specific population. There is evidence to show that the hyperactivity of fear network, prefrontal and occipital cortex may be involved in the pathophysiology of PD and it is necessary to revise models of anxiety disorder.