Resting cardiovascular measures in patients with panic disorder and social phobia and health control subjects: relationship to habitual exercise frequency.

Weekly aerobic exercise frequency was evaluated and compared to resting cardiovascular measures in 22 patients with panic disorder, 11 patients with social phobia and 24 healthy control subjects. There were no diagnostic differences in resting cardiovascular activity or levels of habitual aerobic exercise. However, it was evident that, regardless of diagnostic status, individuals who participated in regular aerobic exercise (20 minutes duration at a minimum frequency of 2x/week) had lower heart rate and higher vagal tone than those who did not exercise aerobically. Implications for previous and future reports of resting cardiovascular measures in anxiety disorder patients are discussed.