TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of alcohol consumption on laboratory-induced panic and state anxiety
AU - Kushner, Matt G.
AU - Mackenzie, Thomas B.
AU - Fiszdon, Joanna
AU - Valentiner, David P.
AU - Foa, Edna
AU - Anderson, Nicole
AU - Wangensteen, Douglas
PY - 1996/3
Y1 - 1996/3
N2 - Background: This study tested whether alcohol consumption reduces anxiety and panic associated with a panic-challenge procedure. Methods: Subjects with panic disorder were randomly assigned to consume either a moderate dose of alcohol or a nonalcoholic placebo. All subjects were told that they were drinking alcohol to control beverage expectancies. Following the beverage administration, subjects underwent a panic challenge (35% carbon dioxide) and a series of anxiety symptom assessments. Results: Subjects who consumed alcohol reported significantly less state anxiety both before and after the challenge. In response to the challenge, subjects who consumed alcohol experienced significantly fewer panic attacks when applying liberal panic criteria; however, this effect only approached significance when applying conservative panic criteria. Conclusions: These findings suggest that alcohol acts acutely to reduce both panic and the anxiety surrounding panic, and they lend support to the view that drinking behavior among those with panic disorder is reinforced by this effect. We suggest that this process may contribute to the high rate at which alcohol-use disorders co-occur with panic disorder.
AB - Background: This study tested whether alcohol consumption reduces anxiety and panic associated with a panic-challenge procedure. Methods: Subjects with panic disorder were randomly assigned to consume either a moderate dose of alcohol or a nonalcoholic placebo. All subjects were told that they were drinking alcohol to control beverage expectancies. Following the beverage administration, subjects underwent a panic challenge (35% carbon dioxide) and a series of anxiety symptom assessments. Results: Subjects who consumed alcohol reported significantly less state anxiety both before and after the challenge. In response to the challenge, subjects who consumed alcohol experienced significantly fewer panic attacks when applying liberal panic criteria; however, this effect only approached significance when applying conservative panic criteria. Conclusions: These findings suggest that alcohol acts acutely to reduce both panic and the anxiety surrounding panic, and they lend support to the view that drinking behavior among those with panic disorder is reinforced by this effect. We suggest that this process may contribute to the high rate at which alcohol-use disorders co-occur with panic disorder.
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U2 - 10.1001/archpsyc.1996.01830030086013
DO - 10.1001/archpsyc.1996.01830030086013
M3 - Article
C2 - 8611064
AN - SCOPUS:0029918580
SN - 0003-990X
VL - 53
SP - 264
EP - 270
JO - Archives of General Psychiatry
JF - Archives of General Psychiatry
IS - 3
ER -