THE EFFECT OF PANIC ATTACK ON MITRAL-VALVE PROLAPSE

It has been reported that panic attacks might cause mitral valve prola pse (MVP) via haemodynamic or indirect effects. Such prolapse can be c lassified as being physiological (benign course) or pathological (poor course). It is therefore important to consider whether panic attacks, as a risk factor for MVP, are associated with its physiological or pa thological type. Our study sample consisted of two groups of patients with panic disorder (PD), one having onset within 1 year (n=24) and th e other with a history of more than 10 years (n=21). Demographic data, symptom presentations, auscultatory and echocardiographic findings of both groups were compared, but no significant difference was found ex cept with regard to anticipatory anxiety. It is concluded that panic a ttack exerts no significant effect on mitral valve prolapse.