Hinton, Devon E, Hinton, Ladson, Tran, Minh et al. · Transcultural psychiatry · 2007 · DOI
This study looked at Vietnamese refugees who experienced panic attacks triggered by standing up quickly from a sitting or lying position (orthostatic dizziness). The researchers found that these panic attacks were common among this group and were often linked to trauma memories and cultural beliefs about health. The study suggests that doctors treating Vietnamese refugees should check for and treat these specific panic attacks as part of their care.
Many ME/CFS patients experience orthostatic intolerance and dizziness upon standing, sometimes accompanied by panic. This study demonstrates that orthostatic symptoms can trigger panic attacks in vulnerable populations and may be influenced by trauma history and cultural factors—insights relevant to understanding the symptom patterns and psychological co-morbidities in ME/CFS patients.
This study does not prove that all orthostatic dizziness causes panic attacks, nor that panic is the primary mechanism in ME/CFS-related orthostatic intolerance. The findings are specific to Vietnamese refugees with psychiatric presentations and may not generalize to ME/CFS populations without psychiatric disorder. Correlation between flashbacks and panic does not establish causation.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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