OBJECTIVE: Several lines of investigation suggest that the noradrenergic neurotransmitter system may be involved in the pathogenesis of panic disorder. Since a mutation in a gene coding for one of the adrenergic receptors could account for both the familial nature and autonomic dysfunction of panic disorder, the authors performed analyses of the linkage between panic disorder and five adrenergic receptor loci. METHOD: The subjects were 14 multiplex pedigrees with DSM-III panic disorder or agoraphobia with panic attacks. The loci tested were the alpha 1/beta 2 pair on chromosome 5q32-q34, the alpha 2/beta 1 pair on chromosome 10q24-q26, and a second alpha 2 locus on chromosome 4. Flanking loci were included in the analysis on chromosomes 5 and 10 to increase the informativeness of the adrenergic receptor loci. RESULTS: Lod scores less than -2.0 were found at all five receptor loci. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide strong evidence against the possibility that genetic mutation at any of these loci is responsible for panic disorder in these pedigrees.Abstract Teaser