PANIC DISORDER IN CARDIOLOGY PATIENTS - A REVIEW OF THE MISSOURI PANIC CARDIOLOGY PROJECT

This paper reviews current evidence from several cardiology populations that suggests that panic disorder is prevalent and underdiagnosed. Cardiology patients with atypical angina, and no heart disease have a high likelihood of having panic disorder, as suggested by studies of two separate cardiology populations. That they resemble psychiatric populations with panic is suggested by their positive response to alprazolam. A panic disorder subtype, called non-fear panic disorder also appeared in about one-third of these cardiology panic patients. These patients have most of the panic symptoms but do not report fear during their episodes.