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Personality of panic disorder alcohol abusers
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|April 1, 1987
Summary
A history of alcoholism impacts panic disorder treatment outcomes. Patients with a history of alcohol abuse showed poorer responses to supportive therapy for general anxiety compared to those without.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Panic disorder is a significant mental health condition.
- Comorbid alcoholism can complicate treatment for panic disorder.
- Understanding the impact of alcohol history on treatment response is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of alcoholism history in panic disorder patients.
- To examine the influence of a history of alcohol abuse on personality traits and anxiety.
- To evaluate the differential response to supportive therapy based on alcohol abuse history.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 61 panic disorder patients in a drug treatment study.
- Assessment of alcoholism history, including recent alcohol abuse.
- Personality testing to evaluate independence and social cue recognition.
- Comparison of general anxiety improvement across different treatment/placebo groups.
Main Results:
- 28% of panic disorder patients had a history of alcoholism.
- Men were more likely than women to have a history of alcohol abuse (p < .03).
- Patients with alcohol history scored lower on independence and social cue recognition.
- Significant general anxiety improvement was observed in the drug treatment and non-alcoholic placebo groups, but not the alcohol placebo group.
Conclusions:
- A history of alcohol abuse is associated with poorer outcomes in supportive therapy for general anxiety in panic disorder patients.
- Alcoholism history may indicate underlying differences in personality and social cognition affecting treatment response.
- Further research is needed to tailor interventions for panic disorder patients with a history of alcoholism.