Breathing Regulation Training for Individuals With Panic Disorder

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study will compare two different breathing regulation techniques to determine which is more effective in reducing the rate of panic attacks in people with panic disorder.

Detailed Description
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PD is a serious condition characterized by episodes of rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, and other symptoms of fear. Explanations for panic attacks have been proposed in two theories: suffocation alarm theory and hyperventilation theory. The suffocation alarm theory claims that panic attacks are due to a suffocation monitor in the brain, erroneously signaling a lack of useful air. The hyperventilation theory suggests that stressful events cause people to slightly hyperventilate; some people have panic attacks as a result of their overreaction to the dizziness and lightheadedness they feel from hyperventilation. Both theories note the role of carbon dioxide (CO2) in panic attacks; they suggest that rising CO2 levels in arterial blood act as a panic stimulus. This study will compare two types of breathing regulation techniques based on the panic attack theories to determine which is more effective in reducing panic symptoms in people with PD. This study will last 4 weeks and will include both people with PD and those without the condition. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: raise-CO2 breathing, lower-CO2 breathing, or a control group. Participants in both the raise-CO2 and lower-CO2 breathing groups will have five sessions of training in which they will learn specific breathing techniques. Participants in the raise-CO2 group will be taught techniques to recover from hyperventilation faster; participants in the lower-CO2 group will be taught techniques to reach hyperventilation levels, then switch to breathing techniques that reduce hyperventilation symptoms. Participants in the control group will not be taught any breathing techniques but will be included in all assessments. Participants will be assessed at study entry, during each breathing training session, and at Months 1 and 6 after the study. During each assessment, questionnaires and self-report scales will be used to measure cognitive, psychological, and physiological changes related to participants' breathing.

Official Title
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Respiratory Therapeutic Procedures in Panic Disorder

Conditions
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Panic Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Raise-CO2 breathing regulation training
* Behavioral: Lower-CO2 breathing regulation training
* Behavioral: Control


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria for Participants With PD: Diagnosis of PD History of panic attacks that are at least moderately severe in frequency and severity Able and willing to comply with all study requirements Exclusion Criteria for All Participants: History of chest pain, heart attack, congestive heart failure, or clinically significant irregular heartbeat History of blood circulation problems or cerebrovascular accidents Diabetes mellitus Asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) History of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or dementia Drugs which would affect breathing Alcohol or other substance abuse within 1 year prior to study entry Current use of any recreational drugs or consumption of more than 15 alcoholic drinks per week Exclusion Criteria for Participants Without PD: History of anxiety disorders

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 1<br>Participants will receive raise-CO2 breathing regulation training | Behavioral: Raise-CO2 breathing regulation training<br>* Reverse hyperventilation (defined by low arterial CO2) is often characteristic of individuals with panic disorder. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: raise-CO2 breathing, lower-CO2 breathing, or a control group. Participants in the raise-CO2 group will be taught techniques to recover from hyperventilation faster.<br>|
| Experimental: 2<br>Participants will receive lower-CO2 breathing regulation training | Behavioral: Lower-CO2 breathing regulation training<br>* According to the false suffocation alarm theory, anxiety is experienced when an overly sensitive hypothalamic mechanism is triggered by rising pCO2. Participants in the lower-CO2 group will be taught techniques to reach hyperventilation levels, then switch to breathing techniques that reduce hyperventilation symptoms.<br>|
| Active Comparator: 3<br>Participants will receive no breathing regulation training | Behavioral: Control<br>* Participants in the control group will not be taught any breathing techniques but will be included in all assessments.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Breathing regulation |  | Measured at Month 6 after completion of therapy | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Hyperventilation, Breathing Exercises, Carbon Dioxide, Panic Attack