Which psychological condition could lead to respiratory alkalosis?

Respiratory alkalosis occurs when there is a decrease in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the blood, which can be caused by hyperventilation. Anxiety attacks often lead to hyperventilation as a result of heightened feelings of panic and anxiety. During an anxiety attack, an individual may breathe more rapidly and deeply, expelling CO2 at a faster rate than it is produced in the body. This rapid breathing decreases the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood, resulting in a higher pH level and thus causing respiratory alkalosis.

In contrast, the other conditions listed generally do not directly lead to this hyperventilation response. Severe depression may lead to slower breathing or even respiratory depression, while post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder may have varied respiratory patterns but are less directly associated with the acute hyperventilation that precipitates respiratory alkalosis.