Premium
Effects of heart‐rate feedback on estimated cardiovascular fitness in patients with panic disorder
Author(s) -
Schmidt Norman B.,
Lerew Darin R.,
Santiago Helen,
Trakowski John H.,
Staab Jeffrey P.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6394(2000)12:2<59::aid-da1>3.0.co;2-g
Subject(s) - panic disorder , panic , heart rate , anxiety , arousal , anxiety sensitivity , psychology , anxiety disorder , physical fitness , affect (linguistics) , medicine , clinical psychology , psychiatry , physical therapy , blood pressure , communication , neuroscience
Psychological parameters that are believed to affect estimations of cardiovascular fitness were examined in patients with panic disorder and nonclinical controls. Fifty‐four participants [panic disorder patients (n = 27) and age‐ and sex‐matched nonclinical controls (n = 27)] completed a cycle ergometer test and were compared on the basis of estimated VO 2 max . Participants were randomly assigned to experimental conditions in which they received heart‐rate feedback or no feedback during the test. Patients with panic disorder exhibited lower VO 2 max and decreased exercise tolerance (i.e., were more likely to discontinue the test) than nonclinical controls. Furthermore, individuals with high anxiety sensitivity (i.e., a fear of autonomic arousal), but not a panic disorder diagnosis per se, achieved significantly lower VO 2 max when provided with heart‐rate feedback. Moreover, diagnostic status interacted with levels of anxiety sensitivity to predict VO 2 max . Patients with panic disorder display poorer cardiovascular fitness after controlling for anxiety and other factors that underestimate performance during fitness testing. Depression and Anxiety 12:59–66, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.