[Patients with panic disorder: a 5-year follow-up study]

The present study is aimed at assessing a 48-outpatient sample that had been diagnosed as Panic Disorder cases: Approximately 5 years ago, patients had been treated with either Alprazolam, Imipramine or placebo during an 8-week double-blind trial. (The original study was part of the International Study on Panic Disorder--see León C. A. et al., Acta Psiquiát Psicol Am Lat, 1990, 36 (1/2), 59-72). Course, as well as clinical evolution of disorders, and changes occurred during that period, such as remission, or persistence of initial symptoms, are worth being noted. On the other hand (a) the efficiency of the original treatment, (b) the subsequent resorting to other treatments, and (c) differences observed among patients that have been grouped according to the medication they had been given during the original trial, are to be emphasized.