Evaluation of TP-E Interval and TP-E/QT Ratio in Panic Disorder

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Psychiatry
• Autonomic Nervous System Research

Background:

• Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction is implicated in panic disorders.
• ANS dysfunction is linked to ventricular arrhythmia and repolarization heterogeneity.
• Limited data exists on panic disorder's association with ventricular depolarization markers like Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate ventricular repolarization parameters in patients diagnosed with panic disorder.
• To assess the relationship between panic disorder and specific electrocardiographic markers of ventricular repolarization.

Main Methods:

• A study group of 40 patients with panic disorder (DSM-5 criteria) was compared to 50 healthy controls.
• Standard 12-lead electrocardiograms were recorded for all participants.
• Measurements included heart rate, QT interval, QRS duration, Tp-e interval, and Tp-e/QT ratio.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in QRS duration or QT interval were observed between groups.
• Patients with panic disorder showed significantly increased QTd, Tp-e, cTp-e intervals, and Tp-e/QT, Tp-e/QTc ratios compared to controls (p < 0.05).
• Panic disorder severity positively correlated with Tp-e interval, cTp-e interval, Tp-e/QT, and Tp-e/QTc ratios in the patient group.

Conclusions:

• Panic disorder is associated with heightened ventricular repolarization heterogeneity.
• This heterogeneity may stem from underlying autonomic nervous system dysregulation in panic disorder patients.