The authors conducted a controlled study of carbamazepine in the
treatment of 14 patients with panic disorder. Although there was a
statistically significant reduction in symptoms of anxiety on several
measures, only one of the patients was judged to have a marked and
sustained clinical improvement while taking carbamazepine. Forty percent of
the patients had a decrease in frequency of panic attacks during
carbamazepine treatment, 50% had an increase, and 10% showed no change. The
presence of either EEG abnormalities or prominent psychosensory symptoms
did not predict response to carbamazepine. These findings are discussed
within the context of an epileptiform model for panic disorder.Abstract Teaser