P-142 - Heart Rate Variability Spectral Analysis in Patients With Panic Disorder Compared With Healthy Controls

Abstract

Power spectral analysis of electrocardiogram is known to be a particularly successful tool in detection of autonomic instabilities in various disorders. The aim of study is to measure very low frequency band (VLF), low frequency band (LF) and high frequency band (HF) components of R-R interval during orthostatic test in patients with panic disorder and a comparison with controls.

Methods

We measured HRV in 31 panic disorder patients and 20 healthy controls. Patients were treated with psychotropics. Autonomic nervous system has been evaluated during orthostatic change in three positions (1^st - supine 5 minutes, 2^nd - standing 5 minutes, 3^rd - supine 5 minutes). Intensity of symptoms was assessed using CGI (Clinical Global Impression), BAI (Beck Anxiety Inventory) and BDI (Beck Depression Inventory), DES (Dissociative Experience Scale). The functioning of the ANS has been measured by the microcomputer diagnostic system that is using power spectral analysis which quantifies the heart rate variability. HRV was assessed using time domain, frequency domain, and nonlinear analyses.

Results

There were highly statistically significant differences between panic patients and control group in all components of power spectral analysis in 2^nd and 3^rd VLF components and in HF components of 2^nd of experiment. We have found highly statistically significant negative correlations between level of dissociation measured by DES and some parameters of ANS.

Conclusions

Autonomic dysregulation is associated with panic disorder and has the relation with the level of dissociation, the age of patiens and age of onset of disorder.