Original articleSymptom Provocation in Specific Phobia Affects the Substance P Neurokinin-1 Receptor System
Section snippets
Subjects
Sixteen female subjects (mean age = 22.75, SD = 4.12, range = 19–34) fulfilling the DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association 1994) criteria for specific spider or snake phobia but not both were included in the study. Screening included web-based Swedish versions (Fredrikson 1983) of the Snake Anxiety Questionnaire (SNAQ, 0–30 points) and Spider Phobia Questionnaire (SPQ, 0–31 points) (Klorman et al. 1974), telephone questioning, clinical interview, and a snake- and spider-fear symptom
Behavioral Measures
State anxiety ratings confirmed significant anxiety differences resulting from exposure to the phobic and non-phobic pictures: 68 ± 11.2 and 29 ± 6.7, respectively [t(15) = 10.97; p < .0001].
Brain Imaging Data Measures
The Patlak analysis demonstrated lower slope values during the visual fear provocation as compared with the non-phobic stimulation. The ratios between the slope values for the two conditions differed significantly from 1 in the right [t(15) = 2.30; p < .05] but not the left amygdala [t(15) = .63; ns] (
Discussion
This is the first in vivo study demonstrating emotional modulation of the human SP-NK1 receptor system. Specifically, fear provocation in individuals with specific phobia resulted in fewer available NK1 receptors. This is consistent with an increased endogenous SP release occupying the NK1 receptors, thus preventing the [11C]-labeled NK1 antagonist from binding. We conclude that, similar to animals (cf. Kramer et al 1998, Santarelli et al 2001), negative affect alter activity in the SP-NK1
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