The Role of Anxiety Sensitivity and Expectancy Manipulation on Panic-Like Response to the 35% CO2 Challenge in Healthy Subjects.

Background: The 35% CO2 challenge is a well-established method triggering panic attacks under laboratory-controlled conditions. There is an ongoing debate whether single or the joined effects of the instructional set and anxiety sensitivity (AS) can alter the outcome of the challenge.

Objectives: The present study investigated the effects of instruction manipulation and AS on panic-like response to the 35% CO2 challenge.

Effectiveness of pharmacological or psychological interventions for smoking cessation in smokers with major depression or depressive symptoms: A systematic review of the literature.

Background: Smokers with major depressive disorder (MDD) or depressive symptoms (DS) represent a subgroup in need of attention, since they have specific clinical features and prognosis.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature (Cochrane, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Web of Science databases from inception to June 2017) of randomized clinical trials assessing the effectiveness of pharmacological, psychological, or combined interventions for smoking cessation in subjects with current or past MDD/DS without medical or comorbid psychiatric disorder(s) was run following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Results: Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria.

Effects of nicotine withdrawal on panic-like response to breath holding: a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover patch study.

Background: Cigarette smoking may increase the likelihood of developing panic disorder. Periods of nicotine withdrawal, in particular, may promote panic in individuals high in anxiety sensitivity. We examined the importance of nicotine withdrawal in the occurrence of smoking and panic.

Significant others, knowledge, and belief on smoking as factors associated with tobacco use in italian adolescents.

Tobacco use is dramatically increasing among youth. Growing attention has been addressed towards possible predictors of smoking in such a population. We evaluated a sample of Italian adolescents to verify whether adults and peers might influence their smoking status.