Statistics on the number and nature of episodic hypertension cases are not compiled, Dr. Mann said, and many doctors regard the condition as rare.

The conclusion Dr. Mann draws in the medical journal is that a link exists between patients with episodic hypertension, also called paroxysmal hypertension, and powerful emotions or traumatic experiences that they are either unaware they had or that they have driven out of their awareness.

Dr. White found correlations between open and obvious panic attacks and episodic hypertension: in patients afflicted with panic attacks or acute anxiety, he found episodes of severe blood-pressure elevation, and, conversely, in studying episodic hypertension, he found an increased incidence of panic attacks.