[A survey of panic symptoms in a primary care setting]

To study the month-prevalence of any panic attacks (PA) among general practitioners' (GP) patients. To evaluate differences in terms of demographics, psychological distress and anxiety, between patients with and without PA.

One-stage cross-sectional study by the means of self-administered inventories.

Waiting room at the GP's office at the San Andres Health Centre (Murcia, Spain).

All consecutive patients attending for any reason the GP's office over one month period. 150 patients accepted to enter the study completing the assessment procedures (response rate of 60%).

Demographic characteristics, Goldberg's GHQ-12 (General Health Questionnaire) total score, STAI-Y (State and Trait Anxiety Inventory) scores, and PAAAS (Panic Attack and Anticipatory Anxiety Scale) scores. The subjects were included in the PA subgroup when showing one or more PA of any pattern (unexpected or situational, complete or subthreshold) over the last month.

The presence of PA over the last month is reported by 38% of our sample (95% IC, 30.14-45.86), with a higher rate in the age-group of 15-44 years. The PA subgroup showed State-Anxiety, Trait-Anxiety and GHQ-12 total-scores higher than those from the panicless subgroup (P<.0000); it appeared significantly younger as well.

Our study points out that any PA are a frequent issue among patients attending family-doctor's office, particularly affecting patients aged 15 to 44 years.