Quantitative Electroencephalography Analysis in Panic Disorder: Exploring the Neurophysiological Significance of High Beta Activity

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the neurophysiological characteristics of panic disorder (PD) by analyzing quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) data, with a particular focus on high beta activity.

Methods: In this retrospective study, resting-state QEEG data from 58 patients with PD and 23 healthy controls (HC) were analyzed. Spectral power was calculated for delta (1-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz), beta (12-25 Hz), and high beta (25-30 Hz) bands across frontal, central, and posterior regions. Group differences were assessed using generalized estimating equations, and Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to examine associations between electroencephalography activity and clinical symptoms.

Results: PD patients showed significantly higher high beta power across all regions compared to HC (frontal: estimate=1.276, χ²=12.48, p<0.0010; central: estimate=0.874, χ²=9.87, p=0.0017; posterior: estimate=0.524, χ²=4.48, p=0.0343). Beta power was elevated only in the frontal region (estimate=3.391, χ²=5.31, p=0.0212), while delta power was increased overall (χ²=4.60, p=0.0390) without regional specificity. No significant group differences were observed in alpha or theta bands. A significant positive correlation was found between frontal high beta power and Panic Disorder Severity Scale scores (r=0.41, p=0.010), while no other significant correlations were observed between regional high beta power and clinical scales.

Conclusion: Increased high beta, beta, and delta activity in PD may reflect a neurophysiological imbalance. In particular, elevated high beta power may indicate hyperarousal and excessive cognitive control in PD, suggesting its potential as a future biomarker.

Keywords: High beta activity; Neurophysiological biomarker; Panic disorder; Quantitative EEG; Resting-state EEG.

Figure 1.

Topographical maps of absolute power in the PD patient and HC groups. Scales show μV² for absolute power. Red represents higher values, and blue represents lower values. The PD group showed increased high beta power across all regions, increased frontal beta power, and higher overall delta power (not region-specific) compared to HC. PD, panic disorder; HC, healthy controls.

Figure 2.

Correlation matrix between high beta band power and clinical scale scores in patients with panic disorder. The color scale indicates the strength of Pearson’s correlation coefficients, with blue representing stronger positive correlations and red indicating minimal correlations. A notable positive association was observed between frontal high beta power and PDSS, strong correlations were also observed among the clinical scales themselves. BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; BAI, Beck Anxiety Inventory; PDSS, Panic Disorder Severity Scale.