Cardiovascular Reactivity and Heart Rate Variability in Panic Disorder
Abstract
Evidence links panic disorder to cardiovascular disease and a greater than two- fold risk of hypertension, myocardial infarction and sudden death. Investigations of this association suggest that panickers have increased cardiac risk because of underlying autonomic dysregulation. Because previous studies of cardiovascular reactivity and heart rate variability have been inconclusive, these factors were re-examined in panickers and controls during physiological challenge in the laboratory and in panickers during naturalistic panic. Forty-nine patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for panic disorder and 24 non- clinical controls underwent orthostatic, Valsalva and CO2 challenge while heart rate, blood pressure, vagal tone, and anxiety symptoms and distress were recorded. Panickers then exposed themselves to panic-provoking situations in dally life during ambulatory monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure and heart rate variability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA439959
Entities
People
- Helen T. Santiago
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences