DYSPNEIC-FEAR THEORY EXPLAINS HYPERVENTILATORY PANIC ATTACKS - REPLY

Carr, Lehrer and Hochron (Behaviour Research and Therapy, 30, 251 261, 1992) attempted to test Ley's (Behaviour Research and Therapy, 30, 54 9 554, 1989) dyspneic-fear theory and concluded that while their resul ts confirmed predictions for a sample of asthmatics, their results did not confirm predictions for a sample of panic-disorder patients. The present paper points to a basic flaw in the Carr et al. study which re nders their conclusions regarding panic disorder indeterminate. The fl aw in the Carr et al. study lies in their selection of panic-disorder patients. Whereas dyspneic-fear theory provides an explanation for pan ic fear experienced in hyperventilatory panic attacks, Carr et al. ove rlooked this fact and selected Ss based on the DSM-IIIR classification , a set of criteria which does not distinguish between hyperventilator y panic attacks and other types of panic attacks (see Ley, Behaviour R esearch and Therapy, 30, 347 357, 1992).