SOCIAL-ADJUSTMENT IN PANIC-AGORAPHOBIC PATIENTS RECONSIDERED

Forty-eight depressed panic-agoraphobic patients - clinically matched for severity of depression with 35 primary chronic depressives - had s ignificantly better adjustment in most areas of social functioning, es pecially those related to interpersonal contact, work, leisure activit ies, and sexual life. Even when depressed, panic-agoraphobic patients appear to possess sufficient interpersonal skills -that is, by leaning on significant others -to engage in a range of social activities, bot h at home and beyond. These data, which are open to different interpre tations, nonetheless suggest that anxiety and mood disorders different ly affect certain key areas of social adjustment.