A Reanalysis of Data from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study

BACKGROUND: Analysing data from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study, Weissman and colleagues reported that panic disorder was strongly associated with suicide attempt. However, they did not control optimally for comorbid disorders known to increase suicide risk. METHOD: Reanalysing the ECA data, we controlled for comorbid disorders in the aggregate rather than one at a time when we estimated the association between panic disorder and suicide attempt. RESULTS: Panic disorder was not associated with an increased risk of suicide attempt. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbid conditions strongly influence whether people with panic disorder are at especial risk of suicide attempt.