[Hyperventilation: not a cause of panic attacks].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the importance of hyperventilation in the pathogenesis of panic attacks.

DESIGN

Descriptive.

SETTING

The Jelgersma Outpatient Clinic at Oegstgeest and the University Hospital Leiden, the Netherlands.

METHOD: In 57 psychiatric patients with a panic disorder and 96 somatic patients with unexplained somatic complaints suggestive of hyperventilation, a Hyperventilation Provocation Test (HVPT) was conducted. Of the somatic patients, 33 had recently experienced a panic attack. During the test, various physiological and symptom criteria for the Hyperventilation Syndrome were assessed. Several measures for concomitant psychopathology were collected as well.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found in physiological criteria for the Hyperventilation Syndrome between psychiatric patients with a panic disorder (PD) and somatic patients with (PA+) or without (PA-) a recent panic attack. On all symptom criteria, however, PD and PA+ patients obtained comparable scores, while both groups scored higher than PA- patients. On most measures for concomitant psychopathology, PD patients scored higher than PA+ patients, who on their part scored higher than PA- patients.

CONCLUSION

Hyperventilation is of secondary importance in the pathogenesis of panic attacks and an early diagnosis of panic attacks or panic disorder may be conducive to more adequate treatment.