title: Emotional processing and panic.
abstract: In this paper Rachman's concept of emotional processing was extended and a model highlighting the psychological operations underpinning processing was specified. Using this model, the aim was to investigate, by means of a questionnaire, whether patients with panic disorder (n=50) have more emotional processing difficulties than two samples of healthy controls (London, n=406; Aberdeen, n=125). The panic disorder group did have significantly more emotional processing difficulties than the control groups, showing a marked tendency to control feelings of anger, unhappiness and anxiety. Three emotional processing dimensions distinguished the panic from the control groups: greater control of emotional experiences ('smothering' or 'bottling up' emotions), greater awareness of feelings and more difficulties in labelling emotions. The authors hypothesise that emotional processing deficits act as a vulnerability factor for developing panic attacks.
authors.affiliation: Dorset Research and Development Support Unit, Poole Hospital NHS Trust, Cornelia House, Poole, Dorset BH15 2JB, UK.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holloway
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Owens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics