April 1, 1992Archives of General Psychiatry
Heart Rate and Plasma Norepinephrine Responsivity to Orthostatic Challenge in Anxiety Disorders
Key result
Patients with panic disorder had a significantly greater heart rate response to orthostatic challenge than controls, whereas those with social phobia exhibited higher plasma norepinephrine levels.
Why the study?
Does orthostatic challenge elicit different heart rate and plasma norepinephrine responses in patients with anxiety disorders compared to normal controls?
Population
20 patients with panic disorder, 20 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects, and an additional group of…
Comparison
Orthostatic challenge vs Normal control subjects and comparison between…
Design
Case-control
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
Hypothesis-generating for subtype-specific autonomic responses in anxiety; prospective studies needed before clinical or risk-stratification implications.
Study Design
Type
Case-Control (n=54)
Structured PICO
Does orthostatic challenge elicit different heart rate and plasma norepinephrine responses in patients with anxiety disorders compared to normal controls?
P
Population
54 participants, comprising 20 patients with panic disorder, 14 with social phobia, and 20 normal controls, evaluated for autonomic responsivity to orthostatic challenge.
E
Exposure
Orthostatic challenge
C
Comparator
Normal control subjects and comparison between different anxiety disorder subtypes (panic disorder vs. social phobia)
O
Outcome
Heart rate and plasma norepinephrine responsivity to orthostatic challengesurrogate
Different anxiety disorders, specifically panic disorder and social phobia, demonstrate distinct patterns of autonomic dysfunction in response to orthostatic challenge.
Cite This Study
Stein et al. (1992) conducted a case-control in Anxiety Disorders (n=54). Panic disorder and social phobia vs. Normal control subjects was evaluated on Heart rate and plasma norepinephrine responsivity to orthostatic challenge. Patients with panic disorder had a significantly greater heart rate response to orthostatic challenge than controls, whereas those with social phobia exhibited higher plasma norepinephrine levels.