Comparison Between the Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia Patients and Normal Controls on the Basis of Cognitions Affect and Physiology

Abstract

Research using ambulatory monitoring and cognitive sampling procedures has revealed the importance of negatively biased cognitions in panic attacks and panic disorder. However, the normal population has never been investigated on the basis of these procedures and it is still unclear how patients deviate from them on the basis of negative cognitions and their interaction with affect and physiology. The present study investigated these issues by comparing 15 panic disorder patients with an equal number of normal controls. The results revealed that, although the pattern of reporting cognitions was similar, the two groups differed on type and content of the cognitions. In general, there were significant differences between the two groups for neutral and negative cognitions. Patients experienced high anxiety levels that were associated with cognitions of negative affect. There was a low frequency of reported panic attacks in the patients group. Possible reasons for the limited number of panic attacks are discussed. of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

THE PSYCHOBIOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF PANIC ATTACKS DURING IN VIVO EXPOSURE

“…The Vitalog is a small and portable device that is carried in a pouch on the waist. These procedures were similar to those reported in the earlier studies (e.g., Khawaja et al, 1993).…”

“…A microrecorder recorded participants' cognitions and subjective distress level throughout the exposure. These procedures were similar to those used in the earlier studies (Kenardy et al, 1989;Khawaja et al, 1993).…”

“…The initial studies shed light on the relationship among the different variables (i.e., cognitions, affect, and physiology) at the time of the panic attack and elevated anxiety. However, further investigation of this relationship phenomenon by Khawaja, Oei and Evans (1993) failed to show a significant relationship among these variables. It is important to note that the preliminary studies were not free from limitations.…”

“…However, elevated anxiety, compared to panic attacks, may not be an accurate reflection of PD or PDA. Furthermore, the absence of any significant relationship in the study by Khawaja et al (1993) may have been due to methodological problems, because the cognitions reported by the patients were classified by an independent normal coder. Further examination of this methodology indicated that the normal coder may not be accurate in reflecting the perspective of the patients who reported the cognitions (Oei & Khawaja, 1999).…”

“…The findings were either based on limited data (Kenardy et al, 1988) or on data that was not collected continuously (Kenardy et al, 1989). Two of these studies (Kenardy et al, 1993;Khawaja et al, 1993) conducted statistical analyses on responses recorded during elevated anxiety. These analyses presented an overall global picture with reference to the high anxiety of the patients.…”