DARWIN,CHARLES AND PANIC DISORDER

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) suffered from a chronic illness that, throu ghout much of his adult life, impaired his functioning and severely li mited his activities. The writings of this famous scientist as well as biographical materials indicate that he probably suffered from an anx iety disorder. His symptoms, when considered individually, suggest a v ariety of conditions, but taken together they point toward panic disor der with agoraphobia. This diagnosis brings coherence to Darwin's acti vities and explains his secluded lifestyle, including difficulty in sp eaking before groups and meeting with colleagues.