PREMENSTRUAL EXACERBATION OF SYMPTOMS IN WOMEN WITH PANIC DISORDER

Citation
Sp. Kaspi et al., PREMENSTRUAL EXACERBATION OF SYMPTOMS IN WOMEN WITH PANIC DISORDER, Journal of anxiety disorders, 8(2), 1994, pp. 131-138
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Psychiatry
ISSN journal
08876185
Volume
8
Issue
2
Year of publication
1994
Pages
131 - 138
Database
ISI
SICI code
0887-6185(1994)8:2<131:PEOSIW>2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
Women with panic disorder commonly report a premenstrual worsening of panic symptoms, but to date this report has not been confirmed in pros pective trials. The present study investigated fluctuations in panic s ymptomatology across the menstrual cycle, with particular attention to the discrepancies between retrospective and prospective studies. Nine ty-four women with panic disorder reported their history of premenstru al symptoms of panic, and 24 of these patients completed prospective d iaries comprising two full menstrual cycles. Similar to previous studi es, 41% of the sample provided a retrospective report of premenstrual worsening of panic symptoms. Unlike previous investigations, a signifi cant increase in panic frequency during the premenstruum was found in our prospective study, with 50% of subjects reporting at least a 100% increase in panic frequency. Women who experienced negative mood preme nstrually were more likely to accurately report exacerbation of panic symptoms during the premenstruum.