COMORBIDITY OF MAJOR DEPRESSION AND PANIC DISORDER

Panic disorder and major depression frequently coexist in the clinical setting. Patients with overlapping symptoms of depression and panic d isorder may have more severe symptoms, may require earlier treatment. earlier and more frequent hospitalization, and may have worse outcomes . In addition, such patients are at greater risk for suicide than thos e having either disorder alone. in light of the importance of these cl inical consequences, the authors will review the available literature on the prevalence and prognosis of comorbid depression and panic disor der and will highlight the major clinical characteristics of panic dis order in depressed patients and the treatment strategies most often us ed. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons. Inc.