The panic disorder respiratory ratio: a dimensional approach to the respiratory subtype

OBJECTIVE: The respiratory ratio is a dimensional construct of the respiratory subtype of panic disorder (PD). The respiratory subtype has been correlated with an increased sensitivity to CO2 inhalation, positive family history of PD and low comorbidity with depression. The objective of our study was to determine whether the respiratory ratio is correlated with CO2-induced panic attacks and other clinical and demographic features. METHODS: We examined 91 patients with PD and submitted them to a double-breath 35% CO2 challenge test. The respiratory ratio was calculated based on the Diagnostic Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ) scores recorded in a diary in the days preceding the CO2 challenge. The scores of the respiratory symptoms were summed and divided by the total DSQ score. RESULTS: The respiratory ratio was correlated with CO2 sensitivity, and there was a non-statistically significant trend towards a correlation with a family history of PD. CONCLUSIONS: The positive correlation between the respiratory ratio and the anxiety elicited by the CO2 inhalation indicates that the intensity of respiratory symptoms may be proportional to the sensitivity to carbon dioxide.

A influência de fatores sócio-econômicos, políticos e culturais no curso e prognóstico da esquizofrenia / The influence of social, economic, political and cultural factors in the course and outcome of schizophrenia

A esquizofrenia é um transtorno Mental grave e de etiologia multifatorial. Apesar de a literatura psiquiátrica enfatizar a importância dos fatores biológicos em sua etiopatogenia e prognóstico, näo se pode negar a influência dos fatores sócio-econômicos, políticos e culturais sobre o prognóstico deste transtorno. Os autores enfocam a açäo e interaçäo destes fatores sobre o que se refere ao curso e prognóstico da Esquizofrenia. Em virtude de sua complexidade, este tema merece ser explorado em novos estudos