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Atypical chest pain and panic disorder.
J L Ayuso Mateos1, C Bayon Perez, J Santo-Domingo Carrasco
1Servicio de Psiquiatria, Hospital de la S.S. La Paz, Madrid, España.
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Many patients presenting with chest pain to emergency wards may have panic disorder, a condition often overlooked. This study found panic disorder in nearly half of patients with unexplained chest pain, highlighting the need for psychiatric evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Emergency Medicine
- Cardiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular symptoms are key diagnostic features of panic disorder.
- Patients with panic disorder frequently present to emergency departments with chest pain.
- A psychiatric diagnosis is often missed in emergency settings, leading to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of panic disorder in patients visiting emergency wards for chest pain.
- To identify patients who are discharged without an organic pathology diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- A structured interview for diagnosing affective and anxiety disorders was administered.
- 112 patients presenting with chest pain and no identified organic pathology were examined.
- Data was collected from patients discharged from a general hospital emergency ward.
Main Results:
- Panic disorder was diagnosed in 47.3% of the studied patients.
- The sample consisted of 112 patients with chest pain and no found organic pathology.
- A significant portion of patients with unexplained chest pain exhibited panic disorder.
Conclusions:
- Panic disorder is highly prevalent in patients presenting with chest pain to emergency departments.
- Routine psychiatric screening may improve diagnosis and treatment for these patients.
- Considering panic disorder in patients with chest pain can prevent misdiagnosis and improve patient outcomes.