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Psychological Precursors of Panic Attacks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Justin Kenardy ,
Leslie Fried ,
Helena C. Kraemer  and
C. Barr Taylor
Justin Kenardy*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Rankin Drive, Newcastle, New South Wales, 2308, Australia, Behavioral Medicine Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
Leslie Fried
Affiliation:
Behavioral Medicine Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford
Helena C. Kraemer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford
C. Barr Taylor
Affiliation:
Behavioral Medicine Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

The ongoing experience of panic disorder was assessed in 20 female subjects, to determine psychological precursors to panic attacks. Measures of anxiety, threat, control, prediction of panic, and symptoms were assessed at hourly intervals during waking hours for one week. Measures were taken using a portable computerised diary which prompted for and stored responses. Patients' ratings of the prediction of panic attacks were the only significant precursors to panic attacks. This supports recent research that expectancy is important in panic onset. The data also suggested that anxiety levels follow a circadian pattern.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 160 , Issue 5 , May 1992 , pp. 668 - 673
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1992 

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