[Are panic attacks really harmless? The cardiovascular impact of panic disorder].
OBJECTIVE
Psychosocial stress and depression have already been established as risk factors for developing and worsening cardiovascular diseases. Anxiety disorders are been strongly associated to cardiac problems nowadays. Panic disorder in cardiac patients represents a challenge for diagnose and treatment. Update the reader on the status of the association between anxiety disorders, particularly panic disorder, in cardiac patients.


METHODS
Were retrieved papers published at ISI and Medline databases since 1998. Key-words used were: 'heart disease', 'coronary disease', 'anxiety', 'panic disorder' and 'autonomic function'.


CONCLUSIONS
The characteristic autonomic pattern found in patients with panic disorder, particularly the reduction in heart rate variability, are discussed as potential mediators of the cardiovascular impact of panic disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite de established association between panic disorder and cardiac diseases, current literatures data points to a knowledge gap on treating and diagnosing the comorbidity between panic disorder and cardiovascular diseases. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and regular supervised exercise are recommended as potential adjunct therapeutic interventions.
Sardinha
Aline
A
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. alinesardinhapsi@gmail.com
Nardi
Antonio Egidio
AE
Zin
Walter Araújo
WA
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology