Finger pulse volume in patients with panic attacks

To study the peripheral blood flow in patients with panic attacks during "Stress" conditions, nine patients with history of panic attacks were subjected to mental stress of arithmetic calculation and room-air voluntary hyperventilation. Finger Pulse Volume (FPV) was significantly altered during the period following mental activity in untreated patients when compared to controls and patients under treatment. There was also an increase in FPV in untreated patients at rest and during recovery after mental stress when compared to the treated patients.