Discrimination between panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder by 35% carbon dioxide challenge.
OBJECTIVE
The authors' goal was to determine whether 35% carbon dioxide (CO2) challenge would discriminate between patients with panic disorder and patients with other anxiety disorders.


METHODS
Nine patients with panic disorder and nine with generalized anxiety disorder underwent the 35% CO2 challenge.


RESULTS
Patients with panic disorder experienced a significantly stronger increase in subjective anxiety than patients with generalized anxiety disorder. However, increases in panic symptom scores were high in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that a large increase in subjective anxiety due to the CO2 challenge is specific for patients with panic disorder but that an increase in panic symptoms is not.
Verburg
K
K
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, State University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Griez
E
E
Meijer
J
J
Pols
H
H
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D002245:Carbon Dioxide