SCID diagnosis of panic disorder in psychogenic seizure patients

The authors administered the Structured Clinic Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID) to 20 outpatients with nonepileptic seizures documented by video-EEG. Fourteen (70%) had one or more non-somatoform DSM-III-R diagnoses. All 14 met criteria for panic disorder. Comorbid mood, psychotic, substance abuse, and eating disorders were also noted. Meticulous use of the SCID, with extensive follow-up, may have resulted in enhanced detection of panic disorder in patients who do not spontaneously report panic symptoms. Panic attacks may play a more important role in nonepileptic seizures than has been generally recognized, especially in outpatients with a chronic course of illness.