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A validation of the 7.5% CO2 model of GAD using paroxetine and lorazepam in healthy volunteers

Bailey, Jayne E.; Kendrick, Adrian; Diaper, Alison; Potokar, John P.; Nutt, David J.

Authors

Jayne E. Bailey

Adrian Kendrick

John P. Potokar

David J. Nutt



Abstract

The inhalation of 7.5% carbon dioxide (CO2) in healthy subjects produces an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, and increased feelings of anxiety, fear and tension (Bailey et al. 2005). As this state is similar to that of general anxiety rather than panic, we further validated this by examining the effects of anxiolytic medication. Two separate studies in healthy volunteers are described; study one is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a single dose of 2mg lorazepam and study two describes the effects of 21 days of treatment with paroxetine. Gas challenges were air and 7.5% CO2 inhaled for 20 minutes, delivered on day 0 (before treatment) and day 21 (after treatment) in the paroxetine study. Subjective effects were measured using visual analogue scales and questionnaires. When compared with placebo, lorazepam 2mg significantly reduced peak CO2-induced subjective fear, feelings of wanting to leave, tension and worry. In the paroxetine study, when compared with day 0, day 21 showed a significantly attenuated peak CO2-induced nervousness and a trend for reduced ratings of anxiety, fear, feel like leaving, tense and worried. In these studies we have shown that this CO 2 model of anxiety is sensitive to lorazepam and to a lesser extent paroxetine. This gives support to its utility as an experimental model of general anxiety disorder in healthy volunteers. © 2007 British Association for Psychopharmacology.

Citation

Bailey, J. E., Kendrick, A., Diaper, A., Potokar, J. P., & Nutt, D. J. (2007). A validation of the 7.5% CO2 model of GAD using paroxetine and lorazepam in healthy volunteers. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 21(1), 42-49. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881106063889

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2007
Deposit Date Nov 21, 2019
Journal Journal of Psychopharmacology
Print ISSN 0269-8811
Electronic ISSN 1461-7285
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 21
Issue 1
Pages 42-49
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881106063889
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/4670152
Publisher URL https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0269881106063889