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Avoidance behaviour and major depression in panic disorder: a report from the Cross-National Collaborative Panic
W Maier1, R Rosenberg, N Argyle
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Mainz, West Germany.
Psychiatric Developments
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Avoidance behavior in panic disorder patients indicates greater illness severity, including earlier onset and more frequent panic attacks. Major depression co-occurrence is less clearly linked to panic disorder severity.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Avoidance behavior and major depression are common in panic disorder patients.
- Their role as indicators of panic disorder severity or separate disorders is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between avoidance behavior, major depression, and panic disorder severity.
- To determine if these factors indicate panic disorder severity or distinct psychiatric conditions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Cross-National Collaborative Panic Study (n = 1,168).
- Examination of the association between avoidance behavior, major depression, and panic disorder characteristics.
Main Results:
- Avoidance behavior strongly correlates with increased panic disorder severity, evidenced by earlier age at onset, higher panic attack frequency, and greater psychopathology.
- Co-occurrence of major depression showed a less clear association with panic disorder severity.
Conclusions:
- Avoidance behavior is a key indicator of panic disorder severity.
- Findings support the concept of subtyping panic disorder based on avoidance behavior and align with DSM-III-R comorbidity concepts for panic disorder and major depression.