Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Mar:124:111-118.
doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.01.014. Epub 2017 Feb 2.

Temporal stability of multiple response systems to 7.5% carbon dioxide challenge

Roxann Roberson-Nay  1 , Eugenia I Gorlin  2 , Jessica R Beadel  2 , Therese Cash  3 , Scott Vrana  3 , Bethany A Teachman  2
Affiliations

Temporal stability of multiple response systems to 7.5% carbon dioxide challenge

Roxann Roberson-Nay et al. Biol Psychol. 2017 Mar.

Abstract

Self-reported anxiety, and potentially physiological response, to maintained inhalation of carbon dioxide (CO2) enriched air shows promise as a putative marker of panic reactivity and vulnerability. Temporal stability of response systems during low-dose, steady-state CO2 breathing challenge is lacking. Outcomes on multiple levels were measured two times, one week apart, in 93 individuals. Stability was highest during the CO2 breathing phase compared to pre-CO2 and recovery phases, with anxiety ratings, respiratory rate, skin conductance level, and heart rate demonstrating good to excellent temporal stability (ICCs≥0.71). Cognitive symptoms tied to panic were somewhat less stable (ICC=0.58) than physical symptoms (ICC=0.74) during CO2 breathing. Escape/avoidance behaviors and DSM-5 panic attacks were not stable. Large effect sizes between task phases also were observed. Overall, results suggest good-excellent levels of temporal stability for multiple outcomes during respiratory stimulation via 7.5% CO2.

Keywords: Carbon dioxide hypersensitivity; Heart rate; Panic attack; Panic risk; Panic symptoms; Reliability; Respiratory rate; Skin conductance; Subjective anxiety; Temporal stability.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Scatterplots Depicting Associations between Session 1 and Session 2 Physiological Measures and Session 1 and Session 2 Anxiety Ratings Assessed during the 7.5% CO2 Breathing Phase of the CO2 challenge. Rf=Respiratory Frequnecy; HR=Heart Rate; SCL=Skin Conductance Level.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4. Washington, DC: Author; 1994.
    1. Battaglia M, Ogliari A, Harris J, Spatola CA, Pesenti-Gritti P, Reichborn-Kjennerud T, … Tambs K. A genetic study of the acute anxious response to carbon dioxide stimulation in man. Journal of Psychiatric Research. 2007;41(11):906–917. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2006.12.002. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bellodi L, Perna G, Caldirola D, Arancio C, Bertani A, Di Bella D. CO2-induced panic attacks: a twin study. American Journal of Psychiatry. 1998;155:1184–1188. doi: 10.1176/ajp.155.9.1184. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Biber B, Alkln T. Panic disorder subtypes: Differential responses to CO2 challenge. American Journal of Psychiatry. 1999;156(5):739–744. doi: 10.1176/ajp.156.5.739. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Biopac Systems, Inc. Electrodermal Response. n.d Retrieved from https://www.biopac.com/wp-content/uploads/app187.pdf.