Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
Volume 26, Issue 1, 2004, Pages 1-13

The Psychophysiology of Orthostatic Panic in Cambodian Refugees Attending A Psychiatric Clinic (Article)

Hinton D.* , So V. , Pollack M.H. , Pitman R.K. , Orr S.P.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Southeast Asian Clinic, North Suffolk Mental Health Center, Revere, MA, United States, Arbour Counseling Services, 10 Bridge Street, Lowell, MA 01852, United States
  • b Arbour Counseling, 10 Bridge Street, Lowell, MA, United States
  • c Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
  • d Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
  • e Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Manchester, NH, United States

Abstract

Orthostatically triggered panic was examined in female Cambodian refugees. Heart rate, blood pressure (BP), panic, and dizziness responses were assessed during orthostatic challenge in three diagnostic groups: orthostatic panic without comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), orthostatic panic with PTSD, and other mental disorders without orthostatic panic or PTSD. During orthostatic challenge, the panic group without PTSD showed a significant drop, whereas the group with other mental disorders showed an increase in systolic BP. The group with panic and PTSD showed a blunted systolic BP response during orthostasis that fell between the responses of the other groups. Catastrophic, culturally specific cognitions present during orthostatic challenge were significantly correlated with the amount of reported panic upon standing. Some patients recalled previous traumatic events during the orthostatic challenge. The findings suggest that orthostatically induced panic attacks in Cambodian refugees are generated by an interaction of orthostasis physiology, catastrophic cognitions, and trauma associations.

Author Keywords

Catastrophic cognitions Posttraumatic Hypotension Panic disorder Orthostatic Stress disorders Refugee

Index Keywords

refugee Heart Rate Cambodia blood pressure human comorbidity disaster panic dizziness mental disease female cognition standing Article major clinical study adult posttraumatic stress disorder psychophysiology mental hospital systolic blood pressure
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0842343472&doi=10.1023%2fB%3aJOBA.0000007451.85942.42&partnerID=40&md5=3b823de1f69f98959a281ad33f312293
DOI: 10.1023/B:JOBA.0000007451.85942.42
ISSN: 08822689
Cited by: 28
Original Language: English