[Obsessive-compulsive symptoms associated with panic disorder. Predictive factor of a good therapeutic response to...

In a sample of 35 patients with a diagnosis of panic disorder or agoraphobia with panic attacks according DSM III criteria, the authors found 8 patients (23%) with obsessive compulsive symptoms. This subgroup and 7 patients without obsessive compulsive symptoms were treated with fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin uptake inhibitor in an 8 weeks open study (2 weeks wash out, 6 weeks treatment). At the end of the study, a dramatic reduction of anxiety was found in different rating scales. Ten patients improved and no panic attack was noted: 7 in the group with obsessive compulsive symptoms (N = 8) and 3 in the group without obsessive compulsive symptoms (N = 7). Interest of fluvoxamine in panic patients with obsessive compulsive symptoms who do not respond to common antipanic medication is suggested. Controlled studies are necessary to confirm these first results.