A. Bertani

35 % CO2 challenge in panic and mood disorders

20 patients with Panic Disorder (PD), 19 patients with Mood Disorder (MD) and 20 healthy controls inhaled one vital capacity of 35% CO2-65% O2 gas mixture and of compressed air in a double-blind, random, cross-over design. Only PD patients showed a strong reaction to 35% CO2 while MD patients and controls did not react significantly. These results support the specificity of the 35% CO2 challenge in PD patients and suggest that PD and MD are separate disorders.

Plasma Interleukin-1β and Tumor Necrosis Factor Concentrations in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorders

Plasma interleukin-1 beta (Il-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations were measured twice, at a 48-hour interval, in 27 drug-free obsessive-compulsive patients (12 women and 15 men) and in 27 sex-age-matched healthy controls. Il-1 beta and TNF-alpha concentrations were significantly lower in patients than in controls, whereas there were no differences in either group between men and women, between the samples of the two days, or, in the patients, between those who had and those who had not been previously treated with psychopharmacologic drugs.