Colon motility during a panic attack.
OBJECTIVE
To document the temporal relationship between a panic attack and high amplitude propagating contractions.


METHODS
Colon manometry was used to discriminate between functional defecation problems and colon neuromuscular disease. By chance, the patent developed a panic attack during the test session.


RESULTS
Coincident with the panic attack, there was a continuous series of high amplitude propagating contractions. There were 15 high amplitude propagating contractions over 45 minutes, initially at a rate of 4 per 10 minutes, gradually slowing to 1.5 per 10 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
These data may explain the cause for gastrointestinal distress and diarrhea in some patients with panic attacks.
Hyman
Paul E
PE
Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA. phyman@kumc.edu
Cocjin
Jose
J
D002400:Cathartics / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D003106:Colon / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000139:chemically induced; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors
D002400:Cathartics