Evaluation of Perseveration in Relation to Panic-Relevant Responding: An Initial Test

Background: Perseveration reflects the tendency to engage in a behavior even when it is no longer rewarding nor produces the expected consequences. Method: The current study explored whether (1) individuals endorsing a recent (past 2 years) history of nonclinical panic attacks would report greater levels of perseveration compared to individuals without such a history; (2) whether individuals endorsing higher levels of perseveration would evidence greater panic-relevant responding to a 4-minute 10% carbon dioxide-enriched air challenge. Results: Results indicated that individuals with, compared to without, a positive panic attack history endorsed significantly greater levels of perseveration. Additionally, greater pre-challenge levels of perseveration significantly predicted greater panic attack symptom severity as well as self-reported anxiety; these significant effects were evident above and beyond the variance accounted for by sex, trait-level negative affectivity, panic attack status, and distress tolerance as well as shared variance with the related constructs of persistence and perfectionism. Discussion: Together, the current findings provide initial, albeit preliminary, support for the utlity of investigating perseveration in relation to models of panic psychopathology specifically, and offer a further empirical context for perseveration-psychopathology relations in general.

Nonclinical Panic Attacks in Adolescents: Prevalence, Symptomatology, and Associated Features

In this study, we examined the prevalence and nature of nonclinical panic attacks in 649 Australian youth and explored the relations between such attacks and measures of social support, stress, anxiety, depression, and fear. Full-blown attacks (attacks involving four or more symptoms with rapid onset) were reported by 104 of the youth (16%). Attacks were reported more frequently by girls than boys; however, age was unrelated to panic-attack status. Heightened levels of anxiety and fear, as well as stress in the family and lack of family support, were related to attack status. Path-analytic procedures supported a working model consisting of stress, social support, and emotional distress as related to panic status. Limitations of the self-report data on panic attacks and the other measures used in this study are acknowledged.