Aversive imagery in panic disorder: agoraphobia severity, comorbidity, and defensive physiology.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Panic is characterized as a disorder of interoceptive physiologic hyperarousal, secondary to persistent anticipation of panic attacks. The novel aim of this research was to investigate whether severity of agoraphobia within panic disorder covaries with the intensity of physiological reactions to imagery of panic attacks and other aversive scenarios.

Methods

A community sample of principal panic disorder (n = 112; 41 without agoraphobia, 71 with agoraphobia) and control (n = 76) participants imagined threatening and neutral events while acoustic startle probes were presented and the eye-blink response (orbicularis oculi) recorded. Changes in heart rate, skin conductance level, and facial expressivity were also measured.

Results

Overall, panic disorder patien

SUBMITTER: McTeague LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3152659 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature