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Childhood trauma and dissociative symptoms in panic disorder
R D Marshall1, F R Schneier, S H Lin
1New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA. randall@nyspi.cpmc.columbia.edu
Objective:
Childhood trauma has been associated with increased risk for both panic disorder and dissociative symptoms in adulthood. The authors hypothesized that among individuals with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder, those experiencing depersonalization/derealization during panic attacks would be more likely to have a history of childhood trauma.
Method:
Rates of traumatic events were compared between panic disorder patients with (N=34) and without (N=40) prominent depersonalization/derealization during panic attacks. Symptom severity in the two groups was also examined.
Results:
Contrary to the authors' hypothesis, no evidence was found that depersonalization/derealization during panic attacks was associated with childhood trauma. Minimal differences in severity of illness were found between patients with dissociative symptoms and those without such symptoms.
Conclusions:
This finding is consistent with a multifactorial model of dissociation. Factors other than childhood trauma and general psychopathology may underlie vulnerability to dissociative symptoms in panic disorder.