PHOBIC SYMPTOMS AS PREDICTORS OF NONRESPONSE TO DRUG-THERAPY IN PANICDISORDER PATIENTS (A PRELIMINARY-REPORT)

Factors that predict nonresponse to drug therapy (brofaromine or fluvo xamine) were investigated in a sample of 44 panic disorder patients. W e used a strict definition of nonresponse to find patients who did not respond at all after 12 weeks of treatment. Using this definition, 15 patients (32.6%) were considered nonresponders. Nonresponders had a h igher score on the Blood-Injury subscore of the Fear Questionnaire (FQ ) and more often had high scores on several FQ subscores, indicative o f comorbid phobic symptoms. These variables were subsequently used to predict nonresponse.