Factors associated with pain level in non-cardiac chest pain patients with comorbid panic disorder. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Foldes-Busque, Guillaume; Hamel, Stéphanie; Belleville, Geneviève; Fleet, Richard; Poitras, Julien; Chauny, Jean-Marc; Vadeboncoeur, Alain; Lavoie, Kim; Marchand, André
• Is Part Of: BioPsychoSocial medicine. Volume 10:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Anxiety sensitivity -- Cardiac anxiety -- Chest pain -- Non-cardiac chest pain -- Heart-focused anxiety -- Panic disorder; Medicine, Psychosomatic -- Periodicals; Mind and body -- Periodicals; Holistic medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologic Disorders -- Periodicals; 616.08
• DOI: 10.1186/s13030-016-0081-5
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-0759

Abstract

Abstract Background Panic disorder (PD) is highly prevalent in patients with non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP). This study aims to explore the role of psychological factors (PD intensity, anxiety sensitivity, heart-related fear, attention and avoidance) common to NCCP and PD in predicting chest pain levels in patients with both conditions. Methods This association was investigated in emergency department patients with NCCP and PD receiving either evidence-based treatment of PD or treatment as usual. Patients were assessed at baseline and 14 weeks later for post-treatment. Results Only heart-focused fear and attention for cardiac sensations independently explained a significant portion of the variance in baseline pain (n = 66). At 3 months follow-up (n = 53), changes in heart-related fear was the only factor independently associated with changes in chest pain intensity. Even in patients with PD, fear specific to cardiac sensations seems to play a central role in determining NCCP intensity. Conclusion These results suggest that the efficacy of intervention for patients with PD and comorbid NCCP could be improved by targeting heart-related fear and attention. Trial registration NCT00736346