title: Anxiety sensitivity and 35% CO2 reactivity in patients with panic disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study examines the possible relationships between anxiety sensitivity (AS) and reactivity to the 35% carbon dioxide (CO(2)) challenge in panic disorder (PD).
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred eight patients with PD underwent the 35% CO(2) challenge and completed the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI). Multiple regression analyses were applied to evaluate the role of AS as a predictor of CO(2)-induced anxiety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six patients with PD showed high AS scores, whereas 48 showed medium scores and 4 low scores. ASI scores significantly predicted symptomatological reaction to CO(2) but not subjective induced anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the fear of anxiety-related bodily sensations was related to the symptomatological reactivity to CO(2) but did not seem to play a crucial role in the modulation of the subjective anxiogenic/panicogenic response to hypercapnia in patients with PD.
authors.affiliation: Anxiety Disorders Clinical and Research Unit, Department of Neuropsychiatric Sciences, Istituto Scientifico HS Raffaele, 29 via Prinetti, 20127 Milan, Italy. perna.giampaolo@hsr.it
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.forename: Pietra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caldirola
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cucchi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bellodi
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide