Vulnerability to 35% CO2 of panic disorder patients with a history of respiratory disorders

van Beek, Nicole; Perna, Giampaolo; Schruers, Koen; Verburg, Kees; Cucchi, Michele; Bellodi, Laura; Griez, Eric

doi:10.1016/S0165-1781(03)00164-1

Next »Psychiatry Research
Volume 120, Issue 2 , Pages 125-130, 30 September 2003

Vulnerability to 35% CO₂ of panic disorder patients with a history of respiratory disorders

Nicole van Beek
- Maastricht University, Departmant of Psychiatry, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht 6200 MD, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +31-43-3685340; fax: +31-43-3685331
Giampaolo Perna
- Anxiety Disorders Clinical and Research Unit, Department of Neuropsychiatric Sciences, Istituto Scientifico H.S. Raffaele, Milan, Italy
Koen Schruers
- Maastricht University, Departmant of Psychiatry, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht 6200 MD, The Netherlands
Kees Verburg
- Maastricht University, Departmant of Psychiatry, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht 6200 MD, The Netherlands
- Formally employed at Maastricht University.
Michele Cucchi
- Anxiety Disorders Clinical and Research Unit, Department of Neuropsychiatric Sciences, Istituto Scientifico H.S. Raffaele, Milan, Italy
Laura Bellodi
- Anxiety Disorders Clinical and Research Unit, Department of Neuropsychiatric Sciences, Istituto Scientifico H.S. Raffaele, Milan, Italy
Eric Griez
- Maastricht University, Departmant of Psychiatry, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht 6200 MD, The Netherlands

Received 23 July 2002; received in revised form 21 April 2003; accepted 28 May 2003.

Abstract

Patients with panic disorder often report a history of respiratory pathology. Furthermore, panic disorder patients are vulnerable to CO₂ challenges. The increased CO₂ vulnerability displayed by panic disorder patients may be related to lifetime respiratory pathology. We examined whether panic disorder patients with a history of respiratory disorders are more vulnerable to a 35% CO₂ challenge than those without such a history. Ninety-six patients with panic disorder were interviewed about their lifetime respiratory status (asthma, bronchitis and various other respiratory conditions) and underwent the challenge. Immediately before and after the CO₂ inhalation, the patients filled out the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A) and the Panic Symptom List (PSL). We found no differences between the two panic disorder groups on anxiety (VAS-A), panic symptoms (PSL) or panic attacks after the CO₂ challenge. Our results suggest that having a PD is an important factor in CO₂ vulnerability independent of a history of respiratory disorders.

Keywords: Asthma, Bronchitis, Respiratory condition