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The panic-agoraphobic spectrum: development, description, and clinical significance
M Katherine Shear1, Giovanni B Cassano, Ellen Frank
1Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. shearmk@msx.upmc.edu
The Psychiatric Clinics of North America
|December 5, 2002
Summary
The panic-agoraphobic spectrum is a valid construct for mood and anxiety disorders, suggesting new treatment strategies. This approach aids in understanding disorder progression and neurobiology.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The panic-agoraphobic spectrum construct offers a framework for understanding mood and anxiety disorders.
- Existing diagnostic categories may have ambiguous boundaries, necessitating refined assessment approaches.
Observation:
- Research supports the panic-agoraphobic spectrum as a robust and culturally transferable concept.
- Comorbid panic features in mood disorders indicate a need for alternative treatment strategies.
Findings:
- The spectrum approach enhances understanding of the course and outcomes of mood and anxiety disorders.
- Incorporating temperamental and trait-like features provides a comprehensive clinical picture of panic disorder (PD).
Implications:
- Findings suggest the need for revised treatment strategies for mood disorders with comorbid panic features.
- The spectrum concept aids neurobiologic research by enabling reliable phenotype identification for brain process mapping.
- This approach may help clarify the pathophysiology of mental disorders and refine diagnostic boundaries.