Acute panicogenic, anxiogenic and dissociative effects of carbon dioxide inhalation in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Increased anxiety and panic to inhalation of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) has been described in patients with anxiety disorders, especially panic disorder, compared to healthy subjects. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been hypothesised to resemble panic disorder and is currently classified as an anxiety disorder in DSM-IV. However, there are only very few data available about the sensitivity of patients with PTSD to CO(2).

METHODS:

In 10 patients with PTSD, 10 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects and 8 patients with panic disorder we assessed anxiety, panic, dissociative and PTSD symptoms before and after a single vital capacity inhalation of 35% CO(2).

RESULTS:

Patients with PTSD showed an increased anxiety, panic and dissociative reaction to the inhalation of 35% CO(2) compared to healthy participants. PTSD subjects' responses were indistinguishable from those of panic patients. Additionally, PTSD-typical symptoms like post-traumatic flashbacks were provoked in patients with PTSD after the inhalation of CO(2).

CONCLUSIONS:

In our sample, PTSD was associated with an increased CO(2) reactivity, pointing to an increased susceptibility of PTSD patients to CO(2) challenge.

• Authors: Christoph Muhtz, Alexander Yassouridis, Jasmine Daneshi, Miriam Braun, Michael Kellner
• Journal: Journal of psychiatric research (J Psychiatr Res) Vol. 45 Issue 7 Pg. 989-93 (Jul 2011) ISSN: 1879-1379 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21324483 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Carbon Dioxide

Topics

• Administration, Inhalation
• Adult
• Anxiety (diagnosis, psychology)
• Arousal
• Carbon Dioxide (administration & dosage)
• Dissociative Disorders (diagnosis, psychology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Panic
• Personality Inventory (statistics & numerical data)
• Psychometrics
• Reference Values
• Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic (diagnosis, psychology)