An Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Acute Sleep Deprivation on Panic-Relevant Biological Challenge Responding

Prospective research indicates sleep deprivation potentiates anxiety development, yet relatively little research has examined the effects of sleep deprivation in terms of specific types of anxiety. The current study tested the association between acute sleep deprivation and panic-relevant biological challenge responding among nonclinical participants. One hundred and two participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental (acute sleep deprivation) or control (no sleep deprivation) group. The day prior to and following the experimental (sleep) manipulation, participants completed a 5-minute 10% carbon dioxide–enriched air laboratory-based biological challenge. As predicted, sleep deprivation increased anxious and fearful responding to the challenge. Findings suggest sleep deprivation may be an important factor to consider in models of panic development. There are several areas in this general domain that warrant additional investigation.