[Panic disorder and angina pectoris]

Panic attacks are a frequently cited cause of noncardiac chest pain. A strict separation of the internist's job (i. e., ruling out an "organic" cause of the patient's complaints) from the psychiatrist's job (e. g., diagnosing and treating panic disorder if present) may not always be the most efficient way of diagnostic work-up. We present the case of a 56-year-old female referred to our institution for elective coronary arteriography. Significant cardiovascular risk factors and symptoms compatible with unstable angina illustrate the common problem of a high probability of cardiac pathology in a patient with possible psychiatric symptoms. A modified SCID-interview complementing the coronary angiography results finally led to the definite diagnosis in this patient after symptoms had been present for over 20 years.