Panic attacks in psychosis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, psychiatric comorbidity and suicidal ideation associated with co-occurring non-affective psychosis and panic attacks, compared with non-affective psychosis without panic attacks, in the general population. METHOD: Data were drawn from the National Comorbidity Survey (n = 8098). Statistical analyses were used to identify differences in sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric comorbidity, suicidal ideation, and familial psychopathology between those with non-affective psychoses with and without panic, as well as to identify correlates of non-affective psychosis and panic. RESULTS: Co-occurring panic attacks and non-affective psychosis, compared with non-affective psychosis without panic, was associated with elevated psychiatric comorbidity and increased odds of suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: Consistent with clinical findings, these data suggest that panic attacks commonly co-occur with psychosis in the community. Results indicate that the co-occurrence of panic and psychosis is associated with increased likelihood of psychiatric comorbidity and suicidality. These findings need replication.