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Related Concept Videos

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Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and sudden minutes-long episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks may feel like heart attacks and often happen without warning or a specific cause. They can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of helplessness. During a panic attack, individuals may feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack or are in a...
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Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat
11:18

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Published on: September 12, 2014

Acids in the brain: a factor in panic?

G Esquivel1, K R Schruers, R J Maddock

  • 1School for Mental Health and Neurosciences and Academic Anxiety Center, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. gabriel.esquivel@pn.unimaas.nl

Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
|May 23, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Experimental panic attacks may be triggered by brain acidosis, a condition caused by methods like carbon dioxide (CO2) inhalations. This acidosis affects brain chemoreceptors, influencing respiration and arousal, potentially explaining the link between panic and breathing.

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Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat
11:18

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat

Published on: September 12, 2014

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
08:17

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Panic attacks involve significant acid-base disturbances.
  • Experimental methods like CO2 inhalation can induce panic-like symptoms.
  • Brain acidosis is implicated in the pathophysiology of panic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of brain acidosis in experimentally induced panic.
  • To explore the link between central chemoreception and panic responses.
  • To propose a model explaining panic as a response to altered brain pH homeostasis.

Main Methods:

  • Induction of panic symptoms through CO2 inhalations, lactate infusions, and hyperventilation.
  • Analysis of acid-base balance and pH alterations.
  • Modeling the relationship between brain acidosis and panic.

Main Results:

  • Various methods to induce panic lead to significant acid-base disturbances.
  • A common scenario involves brain acidosis despite differing systemic pH.
  • Experimental panic attacks correlate with acute brain acidosis.

Conclusions:

  • Acute brain acidosis, induced by methods like CO2 inhalation, may trigger panic attacks.
  • Central CO2/H+ chemoreception is crucial in linking panic and respiration.
  • Disturbances in brain pH homeostasis can elicit primal emotions, including panic.