Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of inositol treatment for panic disorder

Abstract

Objective: Because they found in an earlier study that inositol, an important intracellular second-messenger precursor, was effective against depression in open and double-blind trials, the authors studied its effectiveness against panic disorder. Method: Twenty one patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia completed a double-blind, placebo- controlled, 4-week, random-assignment crossover treatment trial of 12 g/day of inositol. Results: The frequency and severity of panic attacks and the severity of agoraphobia declined significantly more after inositol than after placebo administration. Side effects were minimal. Conclusions: The authors conclude that inositol's efficacy, the absence of significant side effects, and the fact that inositol is a natural component of the human diet make it a potentially attractive therapeutic for panic disorder.