The Michigan Daily - Monday, January 9, 1989 -Page 7

Researchers look for clue

to

- - .


BY NOELLE SHADWICK
Mary Claire Ternes dreads standing in
grocery checkout lines. For years, waiting
in line made her jittery. Her heart beat
rapidly, herr palms perspired, and all she
wanted was to get out of the store, but
instead she pretended nothing was happen-
ing.
"It's a feeling of great tension and en-
ergy," explained Ternes. "You want to
jump, move... you wonder if you're going
to die, faint, throw-up... the whole thing
might last 20 minutes to an hour," she
said.
Ternes' nervousness is the product of a
panic disorder, which comes upon her un-

expectedly, often when she is in crowds.'
Last fall, Ternes saw an ad seeking volun-
teers with anxiety symptoms to participate
in a research program and, for the first
time, she sought help.
Since then she has been panic-free and
hopes to remain so when she finishes the
10-week program.
The University's. Anxiety Disorders
Program has several laboratories research-,
ing panic disorder. Upcoming studies will
examine possible connections between
hormone production and the disorder and
how current medications affect those hor-
mones.
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder that

often develops during early adulthood be-
tween the ages of 15 and 35 and occurs un-
expectedly, said Dr. George Curtis of the
Anxiety Disorders Program.
"Most people don't know what's the
matter," he said. "It strikes so unexpectedly
that people often think they're going crazy.
[One attack] may last 15 to 45 minutes,
and then they're okay until the next one,"
he said.
Symptoms range from mild to severe,
Curtis explained. Patients report being
dizzy, short of breath, shaky, and sweaty.
Sometimes they have diarrhea or tingling
around the mouth, he said.
"Usually they're not afraid of anything

except the symptoms themselves," Curtis
explained, and added that patients some-
times fear the symptoms so much they be-
gin to avoid situations where they think
they might have an attack.
This includes public places that are hard
to get out of such as theaters, grocery
stores, and malls.
Panic disorders affect about 1-2 percent
of the general population, according to a
November 1988 study by the National
Institute of Mental Health.
Those who suffer at least four physical
symptoms at least four times a month are
diagnosed as having panic disorder.
Panic attacks - the same symptoms,

tnxiety
with no regularity - are more common.
At least 33 percent of the population will
have at least one panic attack in their life-
time, the study says.
Anyone who thinks they have panic
disorder and would like to participate in the
study can call Dr. George Curtis at 936-
7868.
Free treatment and medication will be
given for eight weeks for those who are di-
agnosed with the disorder, and those who
follow through with the entire research will
receive $250.
For those who simply want treatment,
the number is 764-5348.

Legality of some executions challenged

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) -
The legality of executing mentally
retarded people is being challenged
before the U.S. Supreme Court this
week by a Texas murderer with the
mind of a 7-year-old.'
The high court Wesdensday is
Diversity
Continued from Page 2
President James Duderstadt's plans
for "developing a pluralistic com-
munity" at the University. He has
identified the incorporation of
"diversity" into all elements of Uni-
versity life as "a critical factor for
the University in achieving overall
excellence" and a central component
of his "Michiigan Mandate."
But Dudbrstadt's diversity talk has
also met with criticism.
"I think Duderstadt calling it Di-
versity Day is de-emphasizing the
achievement and goals of Dr. King
in the aspect that the University is
not celebrating Dr. King's birthday,"
said Commemoration of the Dream
Committee member Taylor, "and
that's the purpose of the day."
Still, this month's events are be-
ing showcased to display, in the
words of Moody, a "commitment to
building a culturally-enriched, di-
verse society at the University of
Michigan."
More than 60 scheduled events
for the month will begin today, run-
ning through the Jan. 18. On Sun-
day and Monday, Jan. 15 and 16, the
University's Office of Minority Af-
fairs will sponsor a symposium on
"The Multicultural1University
Enlightenment, Empowerment and
Equity: A Challenge of the King
Legacy."
Willie Brown, Speaker of the
California State Assembly will open
the symposium, and the closing ad-
dress on Monday will be delivered by
Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young.
Radon
Continued from Page 1
According to Jones, the Univer-
sity of Pittsburgh has been involved
with the EPA testing program and
uses standardized evaluating tech-
niques that reduce their average error.
But according to an Associated
Press report, the Aircraft laboratory
in Arden, N.C. that first detected the
# 37.7 picocuries of radon in the
WGraduate Library was found by Pub-
lic Citizen to have a 45.7 percent
margin of error during July and Oc-
tober 1988, when the consumer
group tested the accuracy of seven of
the largest radon testing laboratories
in the country.
But according to an Associated
Press report, the Aircraft laboratory
in Arden, N.C. that first detected the
37.7 picocuries of radon in the
Graduate Library was found by Pub-
lic Citizen to have a 45.7 percent
margin of error during July and Oc-
tober 1988, when the consumer
group tested the accuracy of seven of
the largest radon testing laboratories
in the country.
However, the report also quoted
workers of the radon laboratories
who said the consumer group had
not followed the instructions on the

radon testing kits. Thus, the detected
margin of error may not be as high
as reported.
Neither the consumer group or
the Aircraft laboratory could be
reached for comment last night.
At the time Aircraft identified the
Graduate Library as having high
levels of radon, 14 tests were sent in
from other buildings on campus.
* Only the Graduate Library showed a

scheduled to hear arguments on
whether executing Johnny Paul
Penry for a 1979 rape-slaying would
be "cruel and unusual punishment"
banned by the Constitution.
A federal appeals court previously
rejected Penry's arguments.

Convicted of rape in 1977, he
served two years of a five-year prison
term. Three months after his re-
leased, he was charged with the
murder of Pamela Mosely Carpenter,
a Livingston resident.
The court will be asked to con-

sider whether jurors should have
considered Penry's retardation before
deciding to impose a death sentence
and whether anyone with Pentry's
mental capacity ever should get the
death penalty, said Penry's attorney,
Curtis mason.

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