Key result
Panic disorder without fear in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries showed few differences in demographics or self-report questionnaires compared to those who reported fear.
Why the study?
Are there differences in demographics and self-reported questionnaire responses between panic disorder patients with and without subjective fear who have angiographically normal coronary arteries?
Cross-Sectional (n=32)
Are there differences in demographics and self-reported questionnaire responses between panic disorder patients with and without subjective fear who have angiographically normal coronary arteries?
Recognizing panic disorder without fear in patients with normal coronary arteries may increase appropriate diagnoses in cardiology settings.
Supports screening for nonfear panic in normal-coronary chest pain; leaves open subtype validation in prospective studies.
By DSM-III-R criteria, patients may be diagnosed as having panic disorder without reporting the experience of intense fear. However, if such patients do not report subjective fear, they may be less likely to receive a panic diagnosis. The authors studied 32 subjects with angiographically normal coronary arteries who fit panic disorder criteria. A total of 13 (41%) reported no fear during their last major attack. These subjects were contrasted with those who did report fear. Few differences were found in group demographic data or responses to self-report questionnaires. We conclude that there appear to be few differences between the nonfear panic disorder subjects and those who do report fear. This conclusion awaits further support using challenge tests, medication trials, biological indices, alexithymia inventories, and family studies. The recognition of the existence of this subtype is likely to increase the number of patients receiving the panic disorder diagnosis in cardiology settings, in psychiatric settings, and in research projects using structured clinical interviews.
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Beitman et al. (1990) conducted a cross-sectional in Panic disorder with angiographically normal coronary arteries (n=32). Panic disorder without fear vs. Panic disorder with fear was evaluated on Differences in group demographic data or responses to self-report questionnaires. Panic disorder without fear in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries showed few differences in demographics or self-report questionnaires compared to those who reported fear.
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