Differences between those who panic by day and those who also panic by night

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Panic disorder affects individuals differently, with some experiencing panic attacks exclusively upon waking.
• Nocturnal panic attacks, occurring out of sleep, represent a distinct phenomenon requiring further investigation.
• Understanding the characteristics and correlates of different panic attack types is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the demographic, personality, and panic-related characteristics of individuals with waking-only panic versus those with both waking and nocturnal panic.
• To explore the associations between panic characteristics and psychological variables, such as anxiety sensitivity and catastrophic cognitions, in both groups.

Main Methods:

• Participants were recruited via print media and support groups.
• The study involved comparing individuals who experience panic attacks exclusively from a waking state with those who also experience panic out of sleep.
• Data collected included demographic, personality, and panic-related variables.

Main Results:

• Individuals experiencing nocturnal panic reported higher levels of anxiety sensitivity compared to the waking-only group.
• Panic attacks were of longer duration in the nocturnal panic group.
• Panic attacks in the nocturnal panic group showed a weaker association with catastrophic cognitions.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest that nocturnal panic may have distinct characteristics and correlates compared to waking-only panic.
• The observed differences, particularly the weaker link to catastrophic cognitions, cautiously challenge a "strong" cognitive theory of panic initiation.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying nocturnal panic attacks.