African-American patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia

Abstract

Fifteen African-American female patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia were matched to an equivalent sample of white patients. These agoraphobics were also compared to a sample of white simple phobics and African-American medically ill patients. While there were no significant differences between our African-American and white agoraphobics in terms of age of onset or symptom severity, as measured by self-rating and clinical rating scales, African-American patients reported having experienced significantly more parental losses and separations during childhood. In addition, four of the African-American agoraphobics, while none of the whites, had been psychiatrically hospitalized. Despite similar symptom severity, treatment outcome was poorer for African-American patients. These findings suggest that African-American patients with panic disorder who present for treatment in inner city areas may not be correctly diagnosed and may be more difficult to treat successfully.