The prevalence of mitral valve prolapse in patients with panic disorders

Of 131 patients with panic disorder or agoraphobia, 44 (34%) had definite mitral valve prolapse on the basis of clinical findings of an apical mid- or late systolic click and a murmur and/or a two-dimensional echocardiogram showing prolapse of one leaflet in two views or of two leaflets in a single view. Seven other patients (5%) had a probable diagnosis of mitral prolapse on the basis of a typical murmur alone or an intermittent apical mid- or late systolic click and a prolapsing leaflet in a single echocardiographic view. This finding confirms previous reports of the association between panic disorder and mitral valve prolapse.