Study of Interoceptive Signals Perception in Patients with Panic Disorder and Eminent Respiratory Symptoms

Abstract

Strong sensations of suffocation, chest pain, tingling, and fear of death are characteristic in a group of patients with panic disorder (PD) and they occur during attacks. This group of patients is designated as the respiratory subtype. In our study, we evaluated symptoms of autonomic disorders that occur during panic attacks and outside in a group of 10 patients with PD respiratory subtype and 10 patients with PD that did not manifest symptoms mentioned above. The results allow us to state that people with PD respiratory typeshow more symptoms of autonomic disorders outside attacks. Delimitation of respiratory subtype of PD can help us to apply special tactics of medical and non-drug treatment of these patients.