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Gros DF, Pavlacic JM, Wray JM, Szafranski DD. Investigating Relations Between the Symptoms of Panic, Agoraphobia, and Suicidal Ideation: The Significance of Comorbid Depressive Symptoms in Veterans with Panic Disorder. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2023; 45:1154-1162. [PMID: 38585157 PMCID: PMC10996580 DOI: 10.1007/s10862-023-10082-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Although panic disorder has been frequently associated with increased suicidal ideation and behaviors, there are multiple explanations for this association in the literature. For example, some research has demonstrated panic disorder symptoms to mediate agoraphobia and suicidal ideation, while other researchers have hypothesized that comorbid depression symptoms contribute to suicidal ideation across anxiety disorders. Of note, none of these studies were completed in veterans, a population at higher risk for suicide relative to civilian samples. The present study investigated relations between the symptoms of panic, agoraphobia, depression, and suicidal ideation in 58 veterans diagnosed with panic disorder via correlations, hierarchical regression, and exploratory path analyses. Multiple models were investigated based on prior research. The final path model demonstrated that symptoms of panic disorder predicted agoraphobia symptoms, with agoraphobia predicting symptoms of depression. Symptoms of depression, then, predicted suicidal ideation. Discussion of the findings related to comorbid depressive symptoms highlight considerations for the assessment and treatment practices for panic disorder, with a particular focus on veterans receiving care within Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel F. Gros
- Mental Health Service, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System, 109 Bee Street, 29401 Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Psychology & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Jeffrey M. Pavlacic
- Mental Health Service, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System, 109 Bee Street, 29401 Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Psychology & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Jennifer M. Wray
- Mental Health Service, Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System, 109 Bee Street, 29401 Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Psychology & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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Hunt C, Krauss A, Hiatt E, Teng EJ. Predictors of symptom reduction following intensive weekend treatment for panic disorder: An exploratory study of veterans. J Affect Disord 2022; 308:298-304. [PMID: 35429544 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent evidence implicates intensive panic control treatment (IPCT) - a full panic control treatment protocol compressed into a single weekend - as a viable alternative for Veterans with panic disorder who are unable or unwilling to commit to standard weekly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, no studies to date have examined pretreatment predictors of response to IPCT. Knowledge of such predictors may be important for understanding which Veterans are best suited for IPCT relative to standard CBT. METHODS Participants were military Veterans with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder (N = 26) who participated in three open trials of IPCT. Pretreatment predictors were tested within linear regression models used to predict panic disorder severity at 2-week and 6-month follow-up assessments. Pretreatment predictors included: Panic disorder severity, agoraphobic avoidance, PTSD symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, and age. RESULTS Pretreatment symptoms of PTSD predicted reduced treatment response at 2-week but not 6-month follow-up, whereas pretreatment anxiety sensitivity predicted reduced response at 6-month but not 2-week follow-up. LIMITATIONS Current findings are tempered by the exploratory nature of the analyses and a small sample. CONCLUSIONS Our study offers tentative evidence that success in IPCT may be linked to a distinct pretreatment profile relative to that of standard weekly therapy. These preliminary findings should be confirmed in larger studies that directly compare pretreatment predictors of intensive versus standard weekly CBT for panic disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Hunt
- Michael E. DeBakey Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, United States of America
| | - Alison Krauss
- Michael E. DeBakey Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, United States of America
| | - Emily Hiatt
- Michael E. DeBakey Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, United States of America; Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Ellen J Teng
- Michael E. DeBakey Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, United States of America; Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, United States of America; South Central Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, United States of America.
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Lai CH. Biomarkers in Panic Disorder. CURRENT PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH AND REVIEWS 2021. [DOI: 10.2174/2666082216999200918163245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background:
Panic disorder (PD) is a kind of anxiety disorder that impacts the life quality
and functional perspectives in patients. However, the pathophysiological study of PD seems still
inadequate and many unresolved issues need to be clarified.
Objectives:
In this review article of biomarkers in PD, the investigator will focus on the findings of
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in the pathophysiology study. The MRI biomarkers
would be divided into several categories, on the basis of structural and functional perspectives.
Methods:
The structural category would include the gray matter and white matter tract studies. The
functional category would consist of functional MRI (fMRI), resting-state fMRI (Rs-fMRI), and
magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The PD biomarkers revealed by the above methodologies
would be discussed in this article.
Results:
For the gray matter perspectives, the PD patients would have alterations in the volumes of
fear network structures, such as the amygdala, parahippocampal gyrus, thalamus, anterior cingulate
cortex, insula, and frontal regions. For the white matter tract studies, the PD patients seemed to have
alterations in the fasciculus linking the fear network regions, such as the anterior thalamic radiation,
uncinate fasciculus, fronto-occipital fasciculus, and superior longitudinal fasciculus. For the fMRI
studies in PD, the significant results also focused on the fear network regions, such as the amygdala,
hippocampus, thalamus, insula, and frontal regions. For the Rs-fMRI studies, PD patients seemed to
have alterations in the regions of the default mode network and fear network model. At last, the
MRS results showed alterations in neuron metabolites of the hippocampus, amygdala, occipital
cortex, and frontal regions.
Conclusion:
The MRI biomarkers in PD might be compatible with the extended fear network model
hypothesis in PD, which included the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, insula, frontal regions, and
sensory-related cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Han Lai
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Abstract
We examined the accuracy of the anxiety not otherwise specified (anxiety NOS) diagnosis in 61 patients, using data from older Veterans screened for a large trial of cognitive behavioral therapy for late-life generalized anxiety disorder. We compared the anxiety NOS diagnoses based on the electronic medical record to diagnoses obtained via a gold standard structured diagnostic interview conducted for this trial. We found concordance of the anxiety NOS diagnosis in only 2 participants (3%). Most patients (77%) met diagnostic criteria for a specific Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) anxiety disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and/or social anxiety disorder, on the basis of a structured diagnostic interview. The erroneous diagnosis of anxiety NOS is a barrier to patients receiving appropriate evidence-based care for specific anxiety-related and trauma-related disorders. Undertreated anxiety can result in poorer health outcomes, overutilization of medical services, and increased health care costs. Accurate diagnosis of anxiety disorders is foundational to evidence-based treatment; thus, it is imperative that patients presenting with anxiety symptoms receive proper diagnostic assessment to facilitate access to the appropriate evidence-based mental health services.
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Lai CH. Fear Network Model in Panic Disorder: The Past and the Future. Psychiatry Investig 2019; 16:16-26. [PMID: 30176707 PMCID: PMC6354036 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2018.05.04.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The core concept for pathophysiology in panic disorder (PD) is the fear network model (FNM). The alterations in FNM might be linked with disturbances in the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which is a common phenomenon in PD. The traditional FNM included the frontal and limbic regions, which were dysregulated in the feedback mechanism for cognitive control of frontal lobe over the primitive response of limbic system. The exaggerated responses of limbic system are also associated with dysregulation in the neurotransmitter system. The neuroimaging studies also corresponded to FNM concept. However, more extended areas of FNM have been discovered in recent imaging studies, such as sensory regions of occipital, parietal cortex and temporal cortex and insula. The insula might integrate the filtered sensory information via thalamus from the visuospatial and other sensory modalities related to occipital, parietal and temporal lobes. In this review article, the traditional and advanced FNM would be discussed. I would also focus on the current evidences of insula, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes in the pathophysiology. In addition, the white matter and functional connectome studies would be reviewed to support the concept of advanced FNM. An emerging dysregulation model of fronto-limbic-insula and temporooccipito-parietal areas might be revealed according to the combined results of recent neuroimaging studies. The future delineation of advanced FNM model can be beneficial from more extensive and advanced studies focusing on the additional sensory regions of occipital, parietal and temporal cortex to confirm the role of advanced FNM in the pathophysiology of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Han Lai
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,PhD Psychiatry & Neuroscience Clinic, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, Yeezen General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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A Review of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Panic Disorder in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: The Rationale for Interoceptive Exposure. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2014; 21:144-54. [DOI: 10.1007/s10880-014-9393-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Health-related quality of life and utility scores in people with mental disorders: a comparison with the non-mentally ill general population. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2014; 11:2804-17. [PMID: 24608903 PMCID: PMC3987005 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph110302804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2014] [Revised: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
There is a lack of comparable health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and utility data across all mental disorders and all inpatient and outpatient settings. Our objective was to investigate the HRQoL and utility scores of people with mental disorders in France, treated in outpatient and inpatient settings, and to identify the HRQoL and utility score losses attributable to mental disorders compared to the non-mentally ill general population. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess HRQoL (SF-12) and utility scores of patients with mental disorders and followed in four psychiatric sectors in France. Scores were described by demographic and clinical characteristics and were then adjusted on age and gender and compared with those of the non-mentally ill general population. Median HRQoL and utility scores were significantly lower in patients with mental disorders than in the non-mentally ill general population; median differences amounted to 5.4 for the HRQoL physical score, to 11.8 for the HRQoL mental score and to 0.125 for the utility score. Our findings underscore the negative impact of mental disorders on HRQoL in France and provide a baseline to assess the global impact of current and future organizational changes in the mental health care system.
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Lai CH, Wu YT, Yu PL, Yuan W. Improvements in white matter micro-structural integrity of right uncinate fasciculus and left fronto-occipital fasciculus of remitted first-episode medication-naïve panic disorder patients. J Affect Disord 2013; 150:330-6. [PMID: 23680435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2013] [Revised: 04/10/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We designed this study to investigate neural correlates of white matter micro-structural integrity of remitted patients with first-episode, medication-naïve and very late-onset panic disorder. METHOD Twenty-one remitted patients with panic disorder completed treatment course with treatment of escitalopram (dose range around 10-15 mg/d). Twenty-one healthy controls were also enrolled into this study. Patients and controls all received 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging diffusion tensor imaging scanning at baseline and 6th week. We utilized FDT (FMRIB's Diffusion Toolbox v2.0) function of FSL (FMRIB Software Library) to calculate fractional anisotropy (FA). We compared FA values of patients and controls at baseline and 6th week to estimate the changes of FA of remitted patient group and inter-scan bias of controls. FA outputs of remitted patients and controls were compared by independent t test. RESULTS We found increased FA in some regions of right uncinate fasciculus and left fronoto-occipital fasciculus after remission in patient group (corrected p<0.05). Reduced FA of other regions of right uncinate fasciculus was still observed in remitted patients when they were compared to the control group. CONCLUSION Subtle changes of white matter micro-structural integrity after remission might represent neural correlates of treatment effects for first-episode, medication-naïve and very late-onset panic disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Han Lai
- Department of Psychiatry, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, No. 45, Cheng Hsin St., Pai-Tou Destrict, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC.
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