Reply to Ley's "dyspneic-fear theory explains hyperventilatory panic attacks".
In a critique of the study by Carr, Lehrer and Hochron (1992), Ley (Behaviour Research and Therapy, 32, 109-111, 1994) attributes the lack of confirmation for his dyspneic-fear theory among panic disorder patients to a basic flaw of that study: Ss were selected according to DSM-IIIR criteria. Ley argues that dyspneic-fear theory pertains exclusively to hyperventilatory (characterized by intense dyspnea) panic attacks not to all attacks that come under the classification of DSM-IIIR. We address the premise concerning the selection of Ss and argue that cognitive theory continues to offer a more convincing explanation of our study and of more recent findings by others.
Carr
R E
RE
Department of Psychiatry, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway 08854.
Lehrer
P M
PM
D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006985:Hyperventilation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*