Let's not push the “panic” button: A critical analysis of panic and panic disorder in adolescents

Abstract

Although recently published research has suggested the widespread prevalence of panic and panic disorder in older children and adolescents, several methodological considerations must be noted. A review of the studies of preadult panic reveals problems of internal and external validity, including small sample sizes, unreliable assessment procedures, restricted settings and sources of information, lack of assessment of panic severity, and lack of normative data. Although recent research has provided new and tantalizing information, it is suggested that definitive conclusions from the available data about panic prevalence in the general and clinical populations are not yet warranted. It is recommended that more cautious inferences should be made given the extant data, while future research should concentrate on amending existing methodological flaws. Implications for psychological theories of panic are also discussed.