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The Implications of the Diving Response in Reducing Panic Symptoms
Peter Kyriakoulis1, Michael Kyrios2, Antonio Egidio Nardi3
1School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
|December 16, 2021
Summary
Cold facial immersion (CFI) significantly reduced panic symptoms in patients with panic disorder (PD). This simple intervention offers potential for managing anxiety and panic attacks.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Physiology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Panic disorder (PD) is often associated with heightened carbon dioxide (CO2) sensitivity.
- Free divers exhibit reduced CO2 sensitivity due to specialized breathing training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the acute effects of cold facial immersion (CFI), breath-holding (BH), and CO2 challenges on panic symptoms.
- To assess the potential of CFI as an intervention for panic symptoms in PD patients.
Main Methods:
- A randomized experimental design involving healthy controls and PD patients.
- Four conditions: breath-holding (BH), cold facial immersion (CFI) for 30 seconds, CO2 challenge, and CO2 challenge followed by CFI.
- Collection of psychological measures and physiological data (heart rate, respiration rate).
Main Results:
- PD patients showed shorter breath-holding durations compared to controls, though not statistically significant.
- The CFI task led to significant reductions in physiological and cognitive panic symptoms in the PD group.
- CFI demonstrated anxiolytic effects, significantly lowering heart rate and self-reported anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Cold facial immersion (CFI) shows promise as a clinical intervention for reducing panic symptoms.
- The anxiolytic effects of CFI in panic disorder patients warrant further investigation for therapeutic applications.
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