THE GALWAY STUDY OF PANIC DISORDER .4. TEMPORAL STABILITY OF DIAGNOSIS BY PRESENT STATE EXAMINATION TEST-RETEST

Background. A long-term outcome study of DSM-III-R panic disorder incl uded the Present State Examination (PSE) at baseline and follow up fiv e to six years later. Method. PSE test-retest and individual within-pa tient change scores on various PSE syndromes were assessed for consist ency with either a categorical view of panic disorder as a stable clin ical entity or panic disorder as one facet only of a 'general neurotic syndrome.' Results. PSE profile at baseline was virtually identical w ith that at follow up. Few patients had 'changed' in PSE syndrome diag nosis after five to six years. Conclusion. These data, although not co nclusive, are supportive of the concept of DSM-III-R panic disorder as a stable clinical entity and are correspondingly difficult to reconci le with the view that panic disorder is but one facet only of a genera l neurotic syndrome.