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Autonomic instability during relaxation in panic disorder

W T Roth1, F H Wilhelm, W Trabert

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, CA 94305-5548, USA. wtroth@stanford.edu

Psychiatry Research
|October 1, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Patients with panic disorder (PD) show autonomic instability during relaxation, indicated by skin conductance changes. These differences were more pronounced in PD patients who experienced panic attacks or had higher baseline anxiety.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychophysiology
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Panic disorder (PD) is characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks.
  • Understanding the physiological responses during relaxation is crucial for PD treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the relaxation abilities of patients with panic disorder and non-anxious controls.
  • To investigate autonomic nervous system responses during a relaxation task in PD patients.

Main Methods:

  • 14 PD patients and 15 controls underwent a 10-minute relaxation period.
  • Subjects performed a standardized activating task (talking) before and after relaxation.
  • Physiological measures included reported anxiety, tension, alertness, skin conductance, skin temperature, and heart rate.

Main Results:

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  • PD patients reported higher absolute anxiety and tension levels.
  • PD patients exhibited less decline in skin conductance and a greater increase in skin temperature during relaxation compared to controls.
  • Skin conductance patterns indicated autonomic instability in PD patients, particularly those with panic attacks.

Conclusions:

  • Autonomic responses during relaxation are inconsistent in PD patients.
  • Skin conductance measures suggest autonomic dysregulation in individuals prone to panic.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the psychophysiological underpinnings of panic disorder.