Case-control study, 2001
Does breathing carbon dioxide trigger panic attacks in people with PMDD like it does in panic disorder?
Yes, people with PMDD had panic attacks during CO2 breathing at similar rates to people with panic disorder. However, this was a very small study with only 10 PMDD participants, so results need confirmation in larger studies.
What they did
Researchers had four groups breathe air with 5% and 7% carbon dioxide while measuring their breathing: 52 patients with panic disorder, 32 healthy people, 10 with PMDD, and 21 with depression.
What they found
More people with panic disorder and PMDD had panic attacks during carbon dioxide breathing than healthy controls or depressed patients. People who panicked had the largest increases in breathing rate and volume, regardless of diagnosis. Among panic disorder patients, those who panicked had lower baseline carbon dioxide levels before the test.
What it means for you
PMDD may trigger panic responses through similar brain mechanisms as panic disorder. The main limit is the very small PMDD sample of only 10 women, which means strong conclusions need confirmation.
10
PMDD participants
52
Panic disorder participants
5% and 7%
Carbon dioxide concentrations tested
About the study
- Original title
- Physiological changes during carbon dioxide inhalation in patients with panic disorder, major depression, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: evidence for a central fear mechanism
- Authors
- Gorman JM, Kent J, Martinez J et al.
- Journal
- Archives of general psychiatry
- Year
- 2001
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 52
- What was tested
- Breathing carbon dioxide at 5% and 7% concentrations
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.58.2.125
Topics
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