Mood swings in patients with panic disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Mental Health
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Depression is a common comorbidity in patients diagnosed with panic disorder.
• Co-occurring depression exacerbates anxiety and avoidance symptoms in panic disorder patients.
• Comorbid depression may reduce the efficacy of standard antidepressant treatments for panic disorder.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of mood disorders among patients undergoing treatment for panic disorder.
• To identify specific types of mood disorders, including bipolar and cyclothymic disorders, within this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the General Behaviour Inventory (GBI) to screen for subsyndromal and syndromal recurrent mood disorders.
• Administered the GBI to 108 patients enrolled in a specialized panic disorder program.
• Classified patients based on GBI results to determine the presence and type of mood disorder.

Main Results:

• A significant proportion, 34% (n=37), of panic disorder patients screened positive for a mood disorder.
• Among those with mood disorders, 68% (25 of 37) were specifically identified as having bipolar or cyclothymic mood disorder.
• This translates to 23% of the total panic disorder patient sample being diagnosed with bipolar or cyclothymic disorder.

Conclusions:

• Recurrent mood disorders, particularly bipolar and cyclothymic types, are highly prevalent in patients with panic disorder.
• The high comorbidity suggests a potential shared etiology or complex interaction between panic and mood disorders.
• Screening for mood disorders in panic disorder patients is crucial for comprehensive assessment and tailored treatment strategies.