Self-reports of panic attacks and manifest anxiety in adolescents

A recent paper by Nelles and Barlow (1988; Clinical Psychology Review, 8, 359-372) provided the rationale for an investigation of panic attacks in adolescents. A panic attack questionnaire and the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale were administered to an unselected sample of Australian adolescents. Of 534 adolescents, 42.9% reported having at least one panic attack. Other data are reported on the characteristics of panic attacks, life interference and avoidance behaviour. Panickers reported significantly higher anxiety levels than nonpanickers. Differences between the findings of Australian and American samples were noted and directions for future research were identified. Several methodological issues were also discussed including the reliability and validity of self-report data on panic attacks.