Higher QT Dispersion in Patients with Social Anxiety Disorder

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Social phobia is frequently accompanied with autonomic nerve system symptoms. QT dispersion( QTd) is the maximum inter-lead difference in QT interval, an indicator of the autonomic nerve system( ANS) disparity of the heart itself. The objective of this study is to investigate the ANS disparity, which is measured by QTd, is associated with pathophysiology of social phobia. METHODS: This research have compared QT dispersion of 25 physically healthy social phobia outpatients(16 men, 9 women, the average age 35.5 +/- 12.9) and age and sex matched control group of mentally and physically healthy 25 volunteers(16 men, 9 women, the average age 34.83 +/- 12.7). QTd was measured by previously described method. RESULTS: QTd and rate-corrected QTd were significantly higher on the patient group than the control group[QTd(patients vs. controls 52.60 +/- 27.63ms vs. 27.53 +/- 14.29ms, p<0.0001), QTd(patients vs. controls 55.79 +/- 27.98ms vs. 29.10 +/- 14.24ms, p<0.0001)]. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the patients with social phobia have higher QTd than the normal controls. These results suggest that the ANS disparity, which is measured by QTd, is associated with pathophysiology of social phobia.