Panic disorder respiratory abnormalities

Among both children and adults, panic attacks are associated with a set of respiratory abnormalities (Klein, 1993 Pine et ah, 2000). These abnormalities are found not only in panic disorder but also in a range of other conditions, such as separation anxiety disorder and isolated panic attacks, which show strong familial associations with panic disorder. It has been suggested that parents with panic disorder transmit a diathesis for certain forms of anxiety that is apparent in the respiratory system (Pine, 1999), may remain latent (Coryell, 1997), or may vary across development, manifested as separation distress during childhood or as panic attacks after puberty (Klein, 1993 Pine et ah, 2000). 

Ventilatory abnormalities have been identified in first-degree relatives of patients with panic disorder (Perna et ah, 1995 Coryell, 1997), as well as in patients with possible precursors for panic disorders, such as separation anxiety disorder (Pine et ah, 2000) or isolated panic attacks (Perna et ah, 1995). Additionally, studies have found family loading for panic disorder in the relatives of panic patients with respiratory abnormalities (Perna et al., 1996), suggesting that hypersensitivity to CO2 inhalation may be a trait marker for panic disorder rather than a state marker. These data suggest that parents with panic disorder may transmit a diathesis for certain forms of anxiety (e.g., separation anxiety disorder) that is observable in the respiratory... 

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