Panic Disorder: Results of a Patient Survey

Abstract

A series of European Panic Forum meetings presented a unique opportunity to gather data on patients with panic disorder and their treatment. Data were collected on nearly 1200 panic disorder patients by means of a postal questionnaire. The survey gathered data on patient history, presentation, healthcare resources and management. The average patient was in their mid-thirties and had suffered panic disorder for a mean period of almost 5 years. In addition to panic disorder, many patients experienced comorbid depression, agoraphobia or generalized anxiety. Over half the patients were seen by a cardiovascular specialist prior to being seen by a psychiatrist, suggesting poor recognition of panic disorder in general practice. Almost 50 per cent of patients were treated with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), almost 60 per cent with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and over 80 per cent with benzodiazepines. Of the drug treatments, SSRIs were considered to be markedly or moderately effective in 68 per cent of patients, compared with 59 per cent receiving benzodiazepines and 58 per cent receiving TCAs. Few patients received psychological interventions. In patients receiving combined treatment with either a benzodiazepine plus an antidepressant, or cognitive-behavioural therapy plus drug therapy, treatment was considered effective in 98–99 per cent of cases. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.