The differences between patients with panic disorder and healthy controls in psychophysiological stress profile

Figures & data

Table 1 The autonomic parameters at baseline period and during mental task

Measure	Controls (n=33)	Panic disorder (n=33)	Statistics
Age, years	35.91±10.68	35.82±12.11	Unpaired t-test: t=0.0323, df=64; ns
HR, bpm	70.20±15.83	77.01±10.78	Mann–Whitney test: MW U=396; ns (p=0.058)
SDRR, interbeat intervals/min	56.61±26.65	45.75±19.14	Unpaired t-test: t=1.862, df=61; ns (p=0.067)
VLF, Hz	175.50±318.10	60.48±52.09	Mann–Whitney test: MW U=251; p<0.005
LF, Hz	190.20±174.10	166.80±235.10	Mann–Whitney test: MW U=400; ns
HF, Hz	160.80±179.00	137.10±228.8	Mann–Whitney test: MW U=418; ns
LF/HF ratio	1.96±1.93	1.91±2.28	Mann–Whitney test: MW U=402.5; ns
Respiration rate, rpm	14.10±3.74	14.44±3.78	Unpaired t-test: t=0.3691, df=64; ns
HRV total power, ms^2/Hz	526.50±563.20	383.00±457.50	Unpaired t-test: t=1.090, df=59; ns
MT_HR, mean bpm	79.68±14.56	83.04±11.22	Unpaired t-test: t=1.052, df=64; ns
MT_SDRR, interbeat intervals/min	59.13±21.29	56.85±31.54	Mann–Whitney test: MW U=459; ns
MT_VLF, Hz	111.20±120.90	71.73±55.18	Unpaired t-test: t=1.639, df=61; ns
MT_LF, Hz	122.80±108.30	147.10±134.20	Unpaired t-test: t=0.7936, df=61; ns
MT_HF, Hz	124.50±128.40	153.70±263.10	Mann–Whitney test: MW U=407; ns
MT_LF/HF ratio	1.31±0.90	2.14±2.05	Unpaired t-test: t=2.108, df=61; p<0.05
MT_resp rate, rpm	15.79±2.21	15.62±4.22	Unpaired t-test: t=0.1985, df=64; ns
MT_HRV total power, ms	358.50±256.10	372.50±411.80	Unpaired t-test: t=0.1639, df=61; ns

Abbreviations: df, degrees of freedom; HF, high frequency; HR, heart rate; HRV, heart rate variability; LF, low frequency; MT, mental test; ns, not significant; MW, Mann–Whitney; SDRR, SD of R–R intervals; VLF, very low frequency.

Table 2 The physiological parameters indicating reactivity to stress

Measure	Controls (n=33)	Panic disorder (n=33)	Statistics
ΔHR	9.48±12.64	6.04±5.92	Unpaired t-test: t=1.417, df=64; ns
ΔSDRR	1.52±24.92	9.23±27.33	Unpaired t-test: t=1.168, df=61; ns
ΔVLF	−60.14±225.70	12.87±53.86	Mann–Whitney test: MW U=367; ns
ΔLF	−67.96±163.30	−26.27±193.90	Unpaired t-test: t=0.9029, df=58; ns
ΔHF	−48.12±140.10	16.60±160.70	Unpaired t-test: t=2.220, df=62; p<0.05
ΔLF/HF ratio	−0.63±1.79	0.22±2.91	Mann–Whitney test: MW U=315; p<0.05
ΔHRV total power	−176.20±420.00	−10.52±273.80	Unpaired t-test: t=0.5033, df=64; ns (p=0.074)

Abbreviations: Δ, difference between the basal and mental test conditions; df, degrees of freedom; HF, high frequency; HR, heart rate; HRV, heart rate variability; LF, low frequency; ns, not significant; SDRR, SD of R–R intervals; VLF, very low frequency.