COMORBIDITY OF PANIC AND MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

The objective of this report is to determine whether those patients with panic disorder who have current major depression disorder (MDD) differ from those who do not in terms of demographics, comorbid disorders, severity of illness, nature of symptoms of panic attacks and psychosocial functioning. The sample consisted of 182 patients with current or history of panic disorder measured by standardized interview techniques. For analysis these patients were then divided by presence or absence of current MDD. The two groups were not different in age, sex, or marital status, age of onset, or symptom characteristics of panic attacks. However, patients with MDD were more likely to have Social Phobia and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, been hospitalized, made suicide attempts or gestures, have poorer psychosocial functioning, and currently be experiencing panic with more severe symptoms. These findings are discussed in terms of previous literature in the area.