RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PANIC ATTACK SYMPTOMS AND COGNITIONS IN PANIC DISORDER PATIENTS

The purpose Of this study was to investigate the nature and relation o f the distressing cognitions and symptoms experienced during panic att acks prospectively, via self-monitoring. Thirty-six patients recorded a total of 285 panic attacks over a two-week period. The results showe d that nearly all (91%) of the recorded full-blown attacks (> 4 sympto ms) contained catastrophic cognitions, but among limited-symptom attac ks (greater-than-or-equal-to 4 symptoms) only 57% did so. Furthermore, panic attacks with catastrophical cognitions were experienced as more severe and included more symptoms than did the non-catastrophical att acks. Finally, five panic symptoms were also meaningfully related to t he bodily sensations experienced. The results largely support the cogn itive theory of panic disorder, Implications of the findings for cogni tive theory, for assessment of panic attacks, and for the diagnosis of panic disorder are discussed.