INCREASING IDENTIFICATION AND REFERRAL OF PANIC DISORDER OVER THE PAST DECADE

The study's objective was to contrast the prevalence, phenomenology, a nd medical care utilization for panic disorder from 1980 to 1990. All psychiatric consultations from a university service from the years 198 0, 1985, and 1990 were located (N = 2,400). Patients meeting DSM-III-R panic disorder criteria were selected for chart review. Variations in demographics, comorbidity, prior medical evaluations, and referred pa tterns were analyzed. The prevalence rate for consultations meeting pa nic disorder criteria has increased (2.5% in 1980, 4.2% in 1985, and 5 .1% in 1990; chi(2) = 7.5, P = 0.024). Referring physicians more frequ ently noted panic attacks in 1990 (5% in 1980, 21% in 1985, and 59% in 1990; chi(2) = 21.2, P = 0.0001). A summary measure of medical care u tilization revealed no significant interval change. Panic disorder is being recognized and referred more frequently by medical physicians si nce the publication of DSM-III and DSM-II-R. However, delay of diagnos is and high medical care utilization remain significant problems.