Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

In patients with panic disorder, medications often target which implicated neurotransmitter?

1. Dopamine

2. Serotonin

3. Norepinephrine

4. Glutamate

The correct answer is: Norepinephrine

In patients with panic disorder, medications often target norepinephrine because this neurotransmitter is closely linked to the body's stress response and the regulation of mood and anxiety. Norepinephrine plays a crucial role in the "fight or flight" response, influencing symptoms that arise during a panic attack, such as increased heart rate and heightened alertness. Many anxiolytic medications, including certain antidepressants and beta-blockers, can help manage panic disorder symptoms by modulating norepinephrine levels in the brain, which helps reduce anxiety and panic occurrences. While serotonin is also involved in anxiety regulation and is a target for various psychiatric medications, norepinephrine's direct connection to the physiological responses experienced during panic attacks makes it particularly significant in the context of panic disorder. Dopamine and glutamate, while important neurotransmitters in their own right, are less directly implicated in the symptoms specific to panic disorder compared to norepinephrine.