CO2 Inhalation and Risk for Panic Disorder

Objective:

The objective of this study is to examine respiratory/physiological and subjective responding as well as genetic transmission among offspring of parents with a history of or current panic disorder (PD) diagnosis. Our goal is to determine whether diagnoses/symptoms, endophenotypes, or genetic profiles in offspring is differentially related to parent PD subtypes (i.e., respiratory and non-respiratory panic).

Study population:

Approximately 80 offspring between the ages of 9 and 20 years of age who have a parent with a current or past history of PD will be recruited. Approximately 40 offspring will be enrolled at NIH/NIMH and the remainder at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.

Design:

Offspring(s) between the ages of 9 to 20 who have a parent with a history of PD will be recruited. A complete psychiatric history will be obtained on all child participants. Child participants also will complete questionnaire measures, provide a sample of DNA, and participate in a carbon dioxide CO(2) lab challenge. The CO(2) lab challenge is the primary outcome measure.

Outcome measures:

Our primary outcome measures include physiological recordings of respiratory, cardiac, and electrodermal responding during a 10 minute baseline followed by 15 minutes of 5% carbon dioxide enriched air (CO(2). Research participants also will complete parent and child self-report measures and provide a DNA sample using a saliva protocol. A full listing of self-reports is provided in the Outcome Measures Section.