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Panic disorder: coronary spasm as a basis for cardiac risk?
V M Mansour1, D J Wilkinson, G L Jennings
1Baker Medical Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC.
The Medical Journal of Australia
|May 22, 1998
Summary
Chest pain during panic attacks can signal serious heart issues like myocardial infarction, not just anxiety. This study highlights coronary artery spasm as a potential cause in panic disorder patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychiatry
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Panic disorder is frequently associated with chest pain, often dismissed as non-cardiac.
- Angina-like chest pain is a common symptom during panic attacks.
Observation:
- Three patients with panic disorder experienced documented cardiac ischemia during chest pain episodes.
- Two patients progressed to myocardial infarction.
Findings:
- Coronary artery spasm was presumed the cause, as no atherosclerosis was found on angiography.
- This suggests a potential organic cardiac origin for chest pain in panic disorder.
Implications:
- Physicians should consider cardiac evaluation for panic disorder patients presenting with angina-like chest pain.
- Early recognition of cardiac ischemia during panic attacks is crucial for timely intervention.
- Differentiating between psychogenic and organic chest pain is vital in clinical practice.