A 5-year follow-up study of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder

To examine the course and outcome of subjects with generalized anxiety diso rder (GAD) and panic disorder, we compared 64 patients with GAD and 68 pati ents with panic disorder who had participated in drug treatment studies and were interviewed an average of 5 years earlier. At baseline GAD subjects w ere significantly older, had an earlier onset, and longer duration of illne ss than panic subjects. GAD subjects also had less severe symptoms. At foll ow-up, diagnostic stability was observed for both GAD and panic disorder. S ignificantly fewer GAD subjects achieved full remission at follow-up (18% v s. 45%, p <.01). Subjects with GAD were significantly less anxious at basel ine than the panic disorder comparison group, but at follow-up there were f ew significant differences between groups on most severity of illness varia bles. This change was due in great part to improvement in the panic disorde r group with a concomitant lack of change in the GAD group.