Frequency and comorbidity of panic attacks and panic disorders in adolescents: Results of the Bremer Adolescent Study

Using data from the Bremer Adolescent Study, this report presents findings on the frequency, comorbidity, and psychosocial impairment of panic disorde r and panic attacks among 1035 adolescents, aged 12-17 years. Panic disorde r occurred rather rare, with only 0.5% of ail the adolescents met the DSM-I V criteria for this disorder sometimes in their life. Panic attack occurred more frequently (18%). Slightly more girls than boys had panic attack and panic disorder. The occurrence of panic attack and panic disorder was the g reatest among the 14-15 year olds. The experience of having a panic attack was associated with a number of problems, the most frequent being avoiding the situation for fear of having another attack. Four most common symptoms associated with a panic attack were those of palpitations, trembling/shakin g, nausea or abdominal distress, and chills or hot flushes. Panic disorder comorbid highly with other psychiatric disorders covered in our study, espe cially with that of major depression. Among those with a panic disorder, ab out 40% were severely impaired during the worst episode of their illness. O nly one out of five adolescents with panic disorder sought professional hel p for emotional and psychiatric problems. The implications of our findings for research and clinical practice are discussed.