A comparison of phobic subtypes within panic disorder

Abstract

Panic disordered patients with agoraphobia ( n=81), with limited phobic avoidance ( n=44), and uncomplicated (i.e., with no avoidance: n=19) were compared by demographic characteristics, panic and near-panic attack symptoms, behavioral response to panic attacks, course of panic disorder, and comorbidity. Mean vectors of the three groups differed significantly from chance ( p<.01), and a discriminant function analysis with jackknife correctly classified 52.0% of patients. Although most of the individual variables did not differ significantly between groups, a cluster of symptoms associated with alterations in consciousness, including dizziness/unsteadiness, faintness/fear of passing out, and derealization during panic attacks were most often reported by agoraphobics. Agoraphobics were also significantly more likely to report help-seeking behavior in response to panic attacks and to report at least moderate anticipatory anxiety than were patients with limited or no avoidance. The results support the utility of categorizing extent of avoidance among patients with panic disorder. They suggest a relationship between agoraphobic avoidance and certain features of panic attacks and patients' responses to panic attacks.