The prediction of short-term and long-term treatment response to sertraline in panic disorder.

Phase I:

This phase starts with a 2-week no-treatment run-in period.

Phase II:

Open-label treatment with Sertraline of three months (until visit 7, day 85). Non-responders to short-term treatment with Sertraline will discontinue from the study at this point.

Phase III:

All other patients will be treated for 6 month and will enter a gradual drug taper, based upon clinical judgement.

Phase IV:

From visit 9 onwards, after drug taper-off, treatment will be naturalistic. At visit 10 (day 3666) a clinical follow-up evaluation will be performed.

Baseline variables such as Harm Avoidance and other personality, biological and electrophysiological measures will predict treatment outocme to an SSRI.

N/A

Treatment with Sertraline (50 mg) for a period of 57 weeks.

Investigators Assessments:

1. Hamilton Anxiety Scale;

2. Hamilton Depression Scale,
3.Clinical Global Impression.


Subjects assessments:

1. Frequency of panic attacks;

2. Fear Questionnaire;

3. Patient Global Evlauation;

4. SCL-90;

5. Temperament and Character Inventory;

6. NEO-Neuroticism subscale;

7. Rand 36-item health survey;

8. Rosenberg Self-esteem list.


Biochemical assessments:

1. Plasma MHPG level, Plasma Sertraline level;

2. Electrophysiology: Heart Rate Variability