Relationship between panic and schizophrenia

Although panic attacks and schizophrenic symptoms are common comorbid conditions, little is known about the reason for this association. A critical review of the literature on the association between panic attacks and schizophrenic symptoms is presented. The findings reported in the literature are discussed as evidence for one of four competing hypotheses: 1) the reported association is due to a methodological artifact, 2) panic attacks cause schizophrenic symptoms, 3) schizophrenic symptoms cause panic attacks, and 4) panic attacks and schizophrenic symptoms share common etiologic factors. No firm conclusions can be drawn due to insufficient empirical data. The best preliminary explanation for the association is that the two disorders share common etiologic factors.