Dynamics of defensive response mobilization during repeated terminations of exposure to increasing interoceptive threat

Benke, Christoph; Krause, Elischa; Hamm, Alfons O.; Pané-Farré, Christiane A.

doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2017.09.013

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 90 publications

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“…However, autonomic, reflex, and brain responses changed as behavioral response pattern switched from terminating to preventing (i.e., from escaping to avoiding) a breathing occlusion during repetitive terminations. In contrast to existing evidence (Benke et al, ; Delgado, Jou, LeDoux, & Phelps, ; Lovibond, Saunders, Weidemann, & Mitchell, ; Vervliet & Indekeu, ), we did not observe changes in defensive mobilization of respiratory responses prior to repetitions of terminations. Thus, mobilization of respiration prior to defensive action is prompted irrespective of the learning history as the adjustment of respiration might be a substantial defensive behavior to prevent a possible suffocation.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Interestingly, in a recent analysis of repeated premature terminations of exposure to increasing dyspnea, we found that the first premature termination of exposure was preceded by a strong surge of autonomic arousal and an inhibition of the startle reflex (Benke, Krause, Hamm, & Pané‐Farré, ). However, autonomic, reflex, and brain responses changed as behavioral response pattern switched from terminating to preventing (i.e., from escaping to avoiding) a breathing occlusion during repetitive terminations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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When dyspnea gets worse: Suffocation fear and the dynamics of defensive respiratory responses to increasing interoceptive threat

2017

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In patients with anxiety and/or respiratory diseases, body sensations, particularly from the respiratory system, may increase in intensity and aversiveness and thus lead into defensive action (e.g., escape) or panic. The processes, however, that might contribute to the culmination of symptoms and the switch into defensive action have not been well understood yet. The current study aimed at evaluating an experimental paradigm to characterize the dynamics of defensive mobilization to body sensations increasing in intensity and aversiveness. Persons reporting low and high suffocation fear (SF; N = 69) were exposed to increasingly unpleasant feelings of dyspnea induced by inspiratory resistive loads and a breathing occlusion requiring voluntary breath holding. Respiratory responses were assessed along with subjective reports of anxiety and panic symptoms. Presentation of respiratory loads with increasing physical resistance led to increasingly unpleasant feelings of dyspnea. Twenty-eight participants terminated the exposure prematurely at least once. When dyspnea was severe, high compared to low SF persons exhibited an increased respiratory rate that was accompanied by reports of more intense panic symptoms. Premature terminations of exposure were preceded by a surge in anxiety, breathing frequency, and mouth pressure, and a decrease in tidal volume. We successfully established an experimental paradigm to assess changes in defensive responding with increasing intensity of an interoceptive threat. The current data foster our understanding of behavioral expression patterns observed in patients with anxiety and/or respiratory diseases and the processes involved in the culmination of bodily sensations and anxiety into panic.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

When dyspnea gets worse: Suffocation fear and the dynamics of defensive respiratory responses to increasing interoceptive threat

2017

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“…Indeed, persistent avoidance prevents the disconfirmation of central concerns about the increased risk of encountering a potential threat. A recent study from our laboratory investigating the development of stable passive avoidance over time supports this view (see Benke, Krause, Hamm, & Pané‐Farré, ). In this study, individuals breathed through a tightly fitting mask connected to a two‐way, Y‐shaped nonrebreathing valve that enabled unrestrictive expiration through the expiratory port of the valve.…”

Section: Avoidance Behavior As An Index Of Functional Impairmentmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Reported anxiety also linearly increased prior to the initial termination of the exposure. In contrast to the physiological responses, reported anxiety increased from the first to the last termination and lasted for a longer duration before the actual time of termination (Benke et al, ). Moreover, high levels of anxiety sensitivity and short durations of breath holding predicted avoidance behavior.…”

Section: Avoidance Behavior As An Index Of Functional Impairmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fear, anxiety, and their disorders from the perspective of psychophysiology

Hamm

2019

Psychophysiology

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Psychophysiology is a central hub connecting neurobiological and behavioral domains with clinical science, thus providing ideal tools for increasing the understanding of mental disorders beyond the level of symptom reports. The present article provides an overview of how psychophysiological research can contribute toward efforts directed at an improved understanding of anxiety disorders. Starting with the behavioral domain, it is demonstrated that defensive behaviors are fundamental to anxiety disorders and that these behaviors are dynamically organized depending upon the proximity of a specific threat. The next section reviews neural networks that are activated during the encoding of threat-relevant information and during the organization of the cascade of defensive responses, including how passive avoidance might be conceptualized within a neurobehavioral framework. The last section addresses the translation of these behavioral and neuronal findings from experimental psychopathology research to clinical populations. Finally, evidence is presented to support how behavioral approaches may be helpful in predicting treatment outcomes.

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“…Most respiratory studies utilised respiratory loads or occlusions; for example, in one detection variant, participants were presented with loads of increasing volume and had to indicate the first detectable load (Benke et al, 2018). In a discrimination variant, participants were required to discriminate between two different respiratory loads (Axen et al, 1994).…”

Section: Respiratorymentioning

confidence: 99%