[Cognitive functions and nonspecific brain systems in patients with panic disorders].

Ninety-three patients with panic disorders and 36 healthy controls have been studied using clinico-neurological, psychometric, neuropsychological and neurophysiological (event-related P300 evoked potentials) methods. Patients with typical panic disorders (TPD) featured a higher level of anxiety, depression and cognitive disturbances such as memory and attention impairment as compared to the control group. Patients with atypical panic disorders differ from those with TPD by the lower anxiety level, more pronounced depression and cognitive impairment. Comparing to healthy subjects, there were a reduction of P300 amplitude in patients with atypical panic disorders and its increase in TPD patients. It has been suggested that the change of P300 amplitude parameters is related to dysfunction of limbic-reticular brain structures in patients with panic disorders.