Panic disorder in chest pain patients referred for cardiological outpatient investigation

Objectives, The aims of the study were to: (i) determine the prevalence of panic disorder (PD) in patients referred to cardiological outpatient clinic s for evaluation of chest pain; (ii) compare psychiatric comorbidity, psych ological distress, pain characteristics and suicidal ideation in PD and non -PD patients; (iii) compare the prevalence of coronary risk factors and med ical comorbidity in PD and non-PD patients; and (iv) describe current PD tr eatment and need for PD treatment as expressed by PD patients, Design. A cross-sectional study based on psychiatric and cardiological inve stigation. Setting, Four cardiological outpatient clinics in Oslo, Norway, Subjects. One-hundred and ninety-nine consecutive patients without known he art disease referred to outpatient clinics for investigation of chest pain. Main outcome measures. Psychiatric state diagnosis (axis I); scores on self -assessment rating scales of psychological factors and pain modalities; car diological diagnosis. Results. Thirty-eight per cent of the patients met criteria for current pan ic disorder (PD), Panic disorder was associated with psychological distress , comorbid psychiatric disorders, medical disorders and significantly highe r prevalence of coronary risk factors (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the results suggest that these patients were not identified and appropriately treated f or panic disorder prior to cardiological investigation, The results indicat e that the patients are positive to screening for psychiatric disorder and communicate a need for treatment early in the investigation process, Conclusion, PD commonly occurs in this chest pain population. Thus, there i s a need to educate physicians caring for these patients about PD identific ation and treatment.