Social adjustment in panic-agoraphobic patients reconsidered

Forty-eight depressed panic-agoraphobic patients--clinically matched for severity of depression with 35 primary chronic depressives--had significantly better adjustment in most areas of social functioning, especially those related to interpersonal contact, work, leisure activities, and sexual life. Even when depressed, panic-agoraphobic patients appear to possess sufficient interpersonal skills--that is, by learning on significant others--to engage in a range of social activities, both at home and beyond. These data, which are open to different interpretations, nonetheless suggest that anxiety and mood disorders differently affect certain key areas of social adjustment.