Anxiety sensitivity and trait anxiety are associated with response to 7.5% carbon dioxide challenge

We examined data from a number of 7.5% CO2 challenge studies to determine whether anxiety proneness was related to subjective or physiological response. Our findings indicate anxiety proneness is associated with greater subjective and physiological responses. However, anxiety-prone individuals also have a greater subjective response to the placebo (medical air) condition. This suggests that anxiety-prone individuals not only respond more strongly to the 7.5% CO2 challenge, but also to medical air. Implications for the design and conduct of 7.5% CO2 challenge studies are discussed.

Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - January 22, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Fluharty, M. E., Attwood, A. S., Munafo, M. R. Tags: Short Report Source Type: research