Panic disorder in children and adolescents

Abstract

Structured diagnostic assessments and DSM-III-R criteria were used to identify panic disorder among 177 consecutive admissions to an outpatient child and adolescent anxiety disorder clinic. The incidence of the disorder was 9.6% ( N=17). All but one of the children were postpubertal (Tanner 3 or 4), with ages at intake and onset ranging from 14 to 18 years. Most of the affected children were female (2:1). Approximately one-half showed no comorbid disorders. For the other half, additional anxiety disorders were the most common co-occuring diagnoses. Over one-half of the youngsters had no history of a psychiatric disturbance prior to the onset of panic disorder. The most frequent past disturbance among the remaining children was depressive disorder. Finally, examination of parental psychiatric history indicated an elevated rate (33.3%) of panic disorder in the mothers, but not the fathers, of these children; in each case, the onset of maternal panic disorder was postpubertal.