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Psychopathological description of hyperventilation-induced panic attacks: a comparison with spontaneous panic attacks
Antonio E Nardi1, Fabiana L Lopes, Alexandre M Valença
1Laboratory of Panic and Respiration, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. aenardi@novanet.com.br
Psychopathology
|February 28, 2004
Summary
Hyperventilation-induced panic attacks (HPA) are common in panic disorder (PD) patients, often presenting with respiratory symptoms. This HPA subgroup may represent a distinct subtype of respiratory panic disorder.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Panic disorder (PD) is a common anxiety disorder.
- Hyperventilation is a known trigger for panic attacks in susceptible individuals.
- Distinguishing subtypes of PD can inform diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe clinical features of hyperventilation-induced panic attacks (HPA) in PD patients.
- To compare HPA with spontaneous panic attacks in the same patients.
- To compare HPA patients with PD patients not sensitive to hyperventilation.
Main Methods:
- 88 PD patients underwent a 4-minute hyperventilation challenge test.
- Anxiety scales were administered before and after the test.
- Clinical symptoms of panic attacks were recorded via diary and compared between groups.
Main Results:
- 51.1% of PD patients experienced HPA.
- HPA patients showed more respiratory symptoms, aligning with the respiratory PD subtype (75.6%).
- HPA group had later onset, higher familial PD prevalence, and more prior depressive episodes.
Conclusions:
- Hyperventilation-induced panic attacks identify a distinct subgroup within panic disorder.
- This subgroup exhibits specific clinical features, including respiratory symptoms.
- Recognizing this HPA subgroup has diagnostic and therapeutic implications for panic disorder management.