Autonomic characteristics of panickers, blood phobics, and nonanxious controls were
compared with a variety of cardiovascular measures, including spectral analysis of the
cardiac inter-beat interval time series (derived from the electrocardiogram). Responses to
laboratory stressors (shock avoidance and cold face stress) of 16 participants who reported
recent occurrences of frequent severe panic attacks, 15 participants who reported strong
somatic reactions and fainting to the sight of blood, and 15 controls, were recorded. Results�…