ISABELLA NASCIMENTO, VALFRIDO LEÃO DE MELO-NETO, ALEXANDRE MARTINS VALENÇA, FABIANA LEÃO LOPES, RAFAEL CHRISTOPHE DA ROCHA FREIRE
Laboratório de Pânico e Respiração, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (IPUB – UFRJ).
LAURA ANDRÉA CASSABIAN
Laboratório de Função Pulmonar, Instituto de Doença do Tórax, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho (HUCFF), UFRJ.
CRISTIANE SOUSA NASCIMENTO BAEZ GARCIA
Laboratório de Investigação Pulmonar, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho (IBCCF), UFRJ.
WALTER ARAÚJO ZIN
Laboratório de Fisiologia da Respiração, IBCCF, UFRJ.
ANTONIO EGIDIO NARDI
Laboratório de Pânico e Respiração, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (IPUB – UFRJ)
Abstract:
Background: Studies suggest an association between panic disorder (PD) and impairment of lung function. Objectives: To evaluate lung function in 11 asymptomatic PD patients and to investigate antipanic drug effects on respiratory function. Method: Lung function was evaluated on two different occasions (with antipanic drugs and after drug washout). It was comprised of a spirometric evaluation and a bronchodilation test (salbutamol inhalation). Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDS) was applied before and after each spirometric assessment. Results: One patient showed mild obstructive airway impairment. Before bronchodilation test forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1 ) and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of the forced vital capacity (FEF25-75 ) were significantly higher in patients on antipanic drugs than in those in the washout period. After salbutamol inhalation, only FEV1 was significantly higher in patients with antipanic drugs in comparison to the other group, whereas a significant increase in FEV1 and FEF25-75 after salbutamol inhalation was detected in patients without antipanic drugs. The subjective anxiety level was not different among PD patients in both test days. Discussion: These results suggest a possible beneficial effect of the antipanic drug on lung function in PD patients.
Keywords:Lung function, spirometry, respiration, salbutamol, anxiety disorder.