"Breakthrough Discovery Paves Way for Potential Cure in Panic Disorder Treatment"

Researchers at the Salk Institute have identified a brain circuit involving PACAP-expressing neurons in the parabrachial nucleus that is linked to panic disorder. This discovery suggests new potential targets for treatment, as inhibiting PACAP signaling reduced panic symptoms in a mouse model. The findings, which diverge from traditional treatments focusing on the brain's serotonin system, could lead to more effective panic disorder therapeutics and further understanding of the condition's distinct nature from other anxiety disorders. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Mental Health and the Simons Foundation and will be published in Nature Neuroscience.