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Commentary: compasses to help navigate the terrain on mental health classification
1Dartmouth Medical School, USA.
International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine
|September 2, 1998
Summary
Primary care physicians (PCPs) can recognize panic disorder (PD). However, they tend to favor prescribing benzodiazepines over more suitable treatments for patients with panic disorder.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Primary Care Medicine
Background:
- Panic disorder (PD) is a common anxiety disorder.
- Effective recognition and management in primary care are crucial for patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how primary care physicians (PCPs) currently recognize and manage panic disorder.
- To identify patterns in diagnostic suspicion and treatment preferences among PCPs for PD.
Main Methods:
- A vignette describing a female patient with panic disorder symptoms was presented to 189 PCPs.
- PCPs' diagnostic likelihood ratings and treatment recommendations were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Most PCPs (75%) suspected panic disorder with at least 50% probability.
- Benzodiazepines were the most frequently suggested medication (78%), followed by serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) (35%).
- PCPs rated medication as more necessary than medical testing or mental health referral, with common medical tests focusing on hyperthyroidism and cardiovascular disorders.
Conclusions:
- Primary care physicians demonstrate a good ability to recognize panic disorder.
- There is a tendency for PCPs to over-prescribe benzodiazepines instead of other appropriate pharmacotherapies for panic disorder.