COURSE OF PANIC DISORDER DURING PREGNANCY AND THE PUERPERIUM - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

Pregnancy has been referred to as a time of well-being for patients wi th psychiatric disorder, However, this impression is derived primarily from anecdotal reports and retrospective studies, rather than systema tic prospective evaluation. In this study, 10 pregnant women with prev ious histories of panic disorder were evaluated prospectively across p regnancy and the postpartum period using the Structured Clinical Inter view for DSM-III-R and the Clinical Global Impression. Information reg arding pharmcotherapy received was also recorded. Seven of 10 subjects continued to meet DSM-III-R criteria for panic disorder at all trimes ter visits. Symptoms persisted for some patients even in the context o f treatment with antipanic medications. Most subjects (n = 9) met DSM- III-R criteria at 1-3 months postpartum despite nearly uniform intensi fication of antipanic treatment. Although some women may experience di minished symptoms of panic during pregnancy, in this sample most conti nued to experience panic attacks and to require antipanic treatment to control symptoms.