Pregnancy-Onset Panic Disorder: Incidence, Comorbidity and Associated Factors

The present study aimed to investigate the incidence rate of pregnancy-onset panic disorder (POPD) among Turkish pregnant women using a diagnostic interview. Additionally, we examined whether the independent socio-demographic or clinical risk factors were associated with the risk of panic disorder in these women.

The study sample comprised 1475 consecutive pregnant women who presented to the obstetric outpatient clinics of two research centers. The rate of POPD in these participants was 1.3% (Group 1, n=20). The 20 women with POPD were compared with 250 pregnant women without pregnancy-onset depression or anxiety (Group 2; controls). Panic disorder and other anxiety or mood disorders were determined by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Comorbid Axis II disorders were diagnosed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders.

The incidence rate of panic disorder was 1.3% (n=20). In group 1, 55% (n=11) of the women with POPD had an additional mood or anxiety disorder. In addition, the prevalence rate of any cluster C personality disorder, including avoidant, passive-aggressive and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders, were significantly greater in the group 1 women with POPD than the control pregnant women without a panic disorder (group 2).

The women with POPD were more likely than the controls to have a cluster C Axis II disorder and a history of a pre-existing anxiety or mood disorder.