Preference between onset predictable and unpredictable administrations of 20% carbon-dioxide-enriched air: implications for better understanding the etiology and treatment of panic disorder

J Exp Psychol Appl. 2000 Dec;6(4):349-58. doi: 10.1037//1076-898x.6.4.349.

Abstract

Predictability of aversive events impacts the development and maintenance of anxiety, particularly panic disorder. Although animal studies typically have found a preference for signaled (predictable) over unsignaled (unpredictable) aversive events, results of research with human participants have been less clear. Using a panic-relevant paradigm, the authors examined predictability preference with humans as a function of anxiety sensitivity and gender during repeated administrations of 20% carbon-dioxide-enriched air. Participants preferred predictable administrations, with high-anxiety individuals showing greater preference than low-anxiety individuals and women showing greater preference than men. In addition to providing information to better understand human predictability preference for panic-related events, results also may aid in determining the applicability of predictability to the cognitive-behavioral treatment of panic disorder.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Arousal / drug effects
  • Association Learning / drug effects*
  • Carbon Dioxide*
  • Choice Behavior
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Conditioning, Classical / drug effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Individuality
  • Internal-External Control*
  • Male
  • Panic / drug effects*
  • Panic Disorder / diagnosis
  • Panic Disorder / etiology*
  • Panic Disorder / therapy

Substances

  • Carbon Dioxide