History of suffocation, state-trait anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity in predicting 35% carbon dioxide-induced panic.
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of history of suffocation, state-trait anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity on response to a 35% carbon dioxide (CO₂) challenge in panic disorder patients, their healthy first-degree relatives and healthy comparisons. Thirty-two patients with panic disorder, 32 first-degree relatives, and 34 healthy volunteers underwent the 35% CO₂ challenge. We assessed baseline anxiety with the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI1), and panic symptoms with the Panic Symptom List (PSL III-R). A history of suffocation was associated with greater risk of CO₂ reactivity in the combined sample. Patients had more anxiety sensitivity and state and trait anxiety than relatives and healthy comparisons; the difference between relatives and healthy comparisons was not significant. In female patients, trait anxiety predicted CO₂-induced panic. Having a CO₂-sensitive panic disorder patient as a first-degree relative did not predict CO₂-induced panic in a healthy relative. History of suffocation may be an important predictor of CO₂-induced panic. Trait anxiety may have a gender-specific relation to CO₂ reactivity.
Monkul
E Serap
ES
Department of Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. monkuls@yahoo.com
Onur
Elif
E
Tural
Umit
U
Hatch
John P
JP
Alkın
Tunç
T
Yücel
Baris
B
Fidaner
Hüray
H
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000523:psychology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012119:Respiration; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D002245:Carbon Dioxide