Predicting prospective episodes of depression in patients with panic disorder: a longitudinal study

This study used a naturalistic, longitudinal study to examine predictors of the emergence of major depression among 90 nondepressed patients with panic disorder who were followed for a 2-year period. Twenty-four percent of the sample experienced a major depressive episode during the study period. Adequacy and type of medication treatment were not associated with decreased risk. Past history of major depression was associated with a greater risk for a prospective episode. The degree of assertiveness, presence of comorbid generalized anxiety disorder, and severity of agoraphobia were each significant predictors of the occurrence of depression when considered alone and when the influence of past history of depression was statistically controlled. The implications of these findings for the clinical management of patients with panic disorder are discussed.