Sensitivity to carbon dioxide in subjects with a single lifetime panic attack: possible clinical "bedside" predictive test for panic disorder after a first attack.
There is currently no way of knowing whether a patient who has recently had a single panic attack has incipient panic disorder. Sensitivity to carbon dioxide (CO2) is lower in healthy volunteers than in panic disorder patients. If this is also true of people who experience a single lifetime panic attack, it could be used as a prognostic test. Subjects with a single lifetime panic attack and subjects with panic disorder received an inhalation of 35% CO2. Subjects completed the panic symptoms scale (PSS), and also stated whether they considered that they had experienced an attack. None of 14 subjects with a single lifetime panic attack, compared to 7 of 17 subjects with panic disorder (P=.009), had an attack. The PSS also distinguished between the groups. The 35% CO2 challenge warrants further investigation as a predictive test after a first panic attack.
Berzak
Elina
E
Department of Psychiatry, Barzilai Medical Center, Ministry of Health, Israel.
Reznik
Mila
M
Narsia
Oxana
O
Benjamin
Jonathan
J
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002245:Carbon Dioxide