Genetic Basis of Predisposition to Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is a common, socially important human neurological disease. It is known that this disease has a strong genetic basis. Many laboratories investigate candidate genes involved in the control of pathological anxiety. This review summarizes the results of these studies and testify that the development of a panic disorder is associated with the polymorphism of the genes of key neurotransmitter systems of the brain (serotonin, dopamine, cholecystokinin), as well as their metabolizing enzymes. Based on the available data, a complex approach is suggested to enable the identification a genotype that provides predisposition to panic disorder.