Respiratory psychophysiology and behavior modification.

Ley (2001) wrote a short editorial. It opened a special journal issue on breathing and behavior change.

The piece asked researchers to treat breathing as learned behavior. It gave no new data.

The paper found nothing new. It simply maps where the field could go.

It flags panic disorder as a prime place to test breathing-based treatments.

Pear et al. (1984) already showed breath-hold relief plus homework cuts speech anxiety. Ley (2001) wants more work like that.

Firth et al. (2001) review fits inside the same issue. They list subtle breathing signs—sighing, low CO2—that drive panic, heart, and pain problems. The editorial frames their review.

Gilbert (2003) extends the idea. Two years later he argues breathing training may also help high blood pressure and angina. The editorial’s call is moving forward.

Richman et al. (2001) run a single-case ABA study. They stop breath holding with functional assessment and reinforcement. The editorial welcomes this behavior-analytic angle.

If you see clients with panic, test their breathing. Ask them to wear a simple CO2 clip for one day. Pair the data with your normal FA. You may find that shallow, fast breaths keep the problem alive. Then teach slower, low-volume breathing as a replacement response. Start with five timed practice rounds each session. Track panic counts and CO2 on the same graph.