Panic attacks in families of patients with mitral valve prolapse

One explanation for the association between mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and panic attacks in clinic populations is that panic attacks represent a set of symptoms caused by mitral prolapse. Since mitral prolapse is often familial, this hypothesis predicts a higher incidence of panic attacks in relatives of persons with prolapse than the general population and the incidence of panic attacks in the relatives should be independent of panic attacks in the proband. We interviewed 50 probands with mitral prolapse and obtained family history data on panic attacks in their first degree relatives. The incidence of panic attacks in these relatives was 4.5 +/- 1.4% which is consistent with control rates which we have reported in previous studies. Twelve MVP probands also had panic attacks. The incidence of panic attacks in their relatives (15.7 +/- 5.1%) was significantly higher than the rate found among relatives of 38 probands without panic attacks (1.2 +/- 0.8%). These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that mitral prolapse and panic attacks are segregating independently in these families.