Anxiety Sensitivity and 35% CO2 Reactivity in Patients with Panic Disorder

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.

Conclusion: 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.