Impulsivity in drug-naive panic disorder

Background: Impulsivity is a key feature of numerous psychiatric disorders. However, the relationship between impulsivity and anxiety disorders is arguable and not well explored. Several methodological considerations related to data interpretation arise when patients previously exposed to psychotropic medication are included in the study population. To address those issues we designed a study in a well defined cohort of treatment-naive panic disorder patients. Material and methods: This case-control study was designed to evaluate impulsivity and its dimensions in the group of 21 psychotropic drug-naive outpatients with panic disorder and 20 healthy controls. The severity of Panic Disorder was assessed with Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (PAS). Impulsiveness was evaluated with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, 11th version (BIS-11). Results: According to our study patients with panic disorders had higher level of both total impulsivity and all impulsivity dimensions comparing to healthy controls. Limitations: The number of participating subjects was relatively small. The study results apply to drug-naive panic disorder patients without agoraphobia. Conclusion: Opposing to the traditional conceptualizations suggesting that impulsivity displays a negative relationship with anxiety this study provides evidence for higher level of impulsivity in drug-naive patients with panic disorder comparing to healthy controls. (C) 2017 Asociacion Universitaria de Zaragoza para el Progreso de la Psiquiatria y la Salud Mental. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.