Effects of heart-rate feedback on estimated cardiovascular fitness in patients with panic disorder

Psychological parameters that are believed to affect estimations of cardiov ascular fitness were examined in patients with panic disorder and nonclinic al controls. Fifty-four participants [panic disorder patients (n = 27) and age- and sex-matched nonclinical controls (n = 27)] completed a cycle ergom eter test and were compared on the basis of estimated VO2max. Participants were randomly assigned to experimental conditions in which they received he art-rate feedback or no feedback during the test. Patients with Panic disor der exhibited lower VO2max and decreased exercise tolerance (i.e., were mor e likely to discontinue tbe test) than? nonclinical controls. Furthermore, individuals with high anxiety sensitivity (i.e., a fear of autonomic arousa l), hat not a Panic disorder diagnosis per se, achieved significantly lower VO2max when provided with heart-rate feedback. Moreover, diagnostic status interacted with levels of anxiety sensitivity to pi-edict VO2max. Patients with panic disorder display poorer cardiovascular fitness after controllin g for anxiety and other-factors that underestimate performance during fitne ss testing. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.