SUICIDE AND PANIC DISORDER - A REVIEW

This article reviews the risk of suicide in panic disorder beginning with early studies showing increased mortality, including suicide, among patients belonging to the broad category of neuroses. More recent follow-up studies of patients with anxiety disorders have found about 20% of deaths due to suicide, a proportion similar to that found in depressive disorders. Also, suicide attempts have been reported by similar proportions of subjects with panic disorder and major depression from the general population. Preliminary data indicate that more severely ill patients with coexisting depression and substance abuse are more likely to attempt or complete suicide. Thus, although limited, the data indicate that the risk of suicide in panic disorder is substantial. As a consequence, clinicians should alert themselves to this preventable outcome and approach treatment with added caution.