Are There Differences Between Panic Disorder With and Without Agoraphobia?

Hisanobu Kaiya, M.D., Eiji Yoshida, M.D., Nobuya Ishida, M.D., Manabu Yamanaka, M.D., Yoshikazu Miyamae, Natsuko Kaiya.

American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

May 30 - June 4, 1998 Wednesday, June 3, 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Summary

Subjects and Method： Random sampling of 50 DSM-�V-R-defined panic disorder (PD) patients (mean age: 36 ± 10 year-old, M/F:38/12) without agoraphobia was done from the data base of the PD Research Center of Nagoya Mental Clinic, which contains data on 550 patients visiting NMC in the last four years. Then, 50 patients with moderate or severe agoraphobia were selected from a similar age and gender group from the same data base. Variables of biography, clinical history, and symptoms at onset and intake, and medications were statistically compared.

Results： The following variables are higher in PD with agoraphobia compared to patients without agoraphobia (p<0.001): maximum daily use of tablets; duration of illness (p=0.0028): situational panic attacks; Sheehan's total scores at onset, depression scores at intake (p=0.0028). No statistical differences were found in the following variables: age of onset; family history of PD, phobias, depression, and substance abuse; history of early separation; academic performance; marital status.

Discussion and Conclusion： Present results suggest that patients with agoraphobia seem to have suffered more severe PD. There is little evidence suggesting that PD without agoraphobia on the whole is a distinct disease entity from PD with agoraphobia.