PREVALENCE OF PANIC DISORDER IN CARDIAC OUTPATIENTS

Objective: To evaluate outpatients from Toronto-area cardiology clinic s for panic disorder (PD) and investigate differences between patients with and without PD. Method: Participants were diagnosed using both s tandard DSM-IV criteria and an altered formulation that identified a m ore fearful panic group. Results: There was a prevalence of panic diso rder (12.5%) in cardiac outpatients in keeping with previous studies. Patients with PD did not differ significantly from other patients with regard to the presence of significant heart disease. The higher preva lence of palpitations found inpatients who met criteria for PD compare d with those who did not reflects previous findings. PD cases did not differ significantly in family history from respondents without the di sorder, but the more fearful group did (P < 0.05). Conclusion: PD ofte n presents with cardiac symptoms, especially palpitations, and is ofte n comorbid with heart disease.