[Nocturnal distress crisis in agoraphobics]

The aim of this study was to measure the incidence of nocturnal panic attacks in a sample of 60 referrals who met DSM-III-R criteria for panic disorders. We also examine the relationship of nocturnal panic and clinical variables and family history. Probands with or without nocturnal panic were compared in regard to the existence of anxiety, affective, personality and alcohol-dependence disorders using the SCID-P and SCID-II interviews for DSM-III-R criteria and the FISC for the family study. Severity was assessed by means of age of onset, percentage of remissions, subtype of agoraphobia and Global Phobic and Global Incapacity Scale. The percentage of panic disorder patients with nocturnal panic attacks was 40%. The existence of nocturnal panic seem to be in relation to the presence of affective disorders and to modify the severity of illness.