Hemodynamic response to respiratory challenges in panic disorder

This study compares the hemodynamic response to panic disorder subjects with that of normal controls during respiratory challenges. Panic patients meeting DSM-IIIR criteria for panic disorder and normal controls were challenged with room air hyperventilation, 5% CO2 breathing, and 7% CO2 breathing. Measurements of pulse and blood pressure were taken at resting baseline and before and at the end of each respiratory challenge. Panic attack to each challenge was determined by using raters blinded to subject diagnosis and each subject's self-rating of panic. Significantly larger systolic and diastolic blood pressure increases were found in patients who panicked with room air hyperventilation than nonpanicking patients or normal controls. No significant blood pressure differences were found with 7% or 5% CO2 challenges, but higher pulse rates were found in the patient group. It may be possible that panic with room air hyperventilation causes a significant increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, or that a subgroup of panic disorder patients has a hyperactive vascular response to hypocapnia. These patients panic with room air hyperventilation and develop greater vasoconstriction and/or increased blood pressure response.