One-year follow-up of panic disorder. Outcome and prognostic factors

A 1-year follow-up study was carried out in 77 patients with panic attacks (panic disorder). Of these patients 43% were remitted; avoidance behaviour and chronic anxiety were more persistent than panic attacks within the 1-year period. The main predictor for features of anxiety in the follow-up was avoidance behaviour. The most prominent prognostic factor for features of depression was the history of previous depressive episodes. Female patients had a poorer outcome than male patients.