Visuo-spatial attention processes in panic disorder with agoraphobia: a pilot study using a visual target discrimination task

Panic attacks can be observed in a wide range of situations, but most commo n are those providing complex and unstructured stimulations, suggesting an impairment in attentional processing of visuo-spatial information. This stu dy evaluated agoraphobics' attentional processing of neutral (i.e., not anx iety-provoking) visuo-spatial stimulation. Twelve patients suffering from p anic attacks with agoraphobia were compared with 22 normal controls on a co mputerized visual target discrimination task specifically designed for this study. Psychometric measures assessed the phobic avoidance, the level of d epression and anxiety. The numbers of errors and reaction times were analys ed with a three-way ANOVA (Group x target modality x number of stimulations ). No between-group significant difference was found far the reaction time performance and the mean number of detection errors. However, an interactio n effect was observed for this last variable depending on the target modali ty: agoraphobic patients made fewer omission errors than control subjects w hen the target was present among distracters, while they made more commissi on errors when the target was absent. Outcomes are discussed in terms of at tentional hyperactivation related to anxiety and perseverative decision pro cess in agoraphobic patients. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.