Citation

Smeets G, Merckelbach H, Griez E. Anxiety Stress Coping 1997; 10(3): 245-255.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10615809708249303

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Panic patients (n=22) and normal controls (n=26) completed the Preference Test (PT) and a Conjugate Lateral Eye Movements (CLEMs) task as measures of hemisphere reliance. Furthermore, they completed the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) as indices of self-reported anxiety. While panic patients and controls did not differ with regard to the PT, panic patients displayed significantly more left lateral eye movements than controls. Additionally, across both groups, significant positive correlations were found between right-hemisphere activation (as indexed by CLEM scores) and ASI, suggesting that stronger right-hemisphere reliance is related to greater interoceptive fear. Thus, some indications were found for a relative right-hemisphere overactivation in panic disorders.