Sl. Snyder et al., SCID DIAGNOSIS OF PANIC DISORDER IN PSYCHOGENIC SEIZURE PATIENTS, The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences, 6(3), 1994, pp. 261-266
The authors administered the Structured Clinic Interview for DSM-III-R
(SCID) to 20 outpatients with nonepileptic seizures documented by vid
eo-EEG. Fourteen (70%) had one or more non-somatoform DSM-III-R diagno
ses. All 14 met criteria for panic disorder. Comorbid mood, psychotic,
substance abuse, and eating disorders were also noted. Meticulous use
of the SCID, with extensive follow-up, may have resulted in enhanced
detection of panic disorder in patients who do not spontaneously repor
t panic symptoms. Panic attacks may play a more important role in none
pileptic seizures than has been generally recognized, especially in ou
tpatients with a chronic course of illness.