Panic disorder in hospitalized cancer patients

Cancer is commonly complicated by psychiatric comorbidity, particularly dep ression. However, the effects of panic on cancer treatment and cancer patie nts' quality of life are not well understood. To examine more closely the o ccurrence of panic attacks and panic disorder in cancer patients, we retros pectively reviewed charts of 106 consecutive psychosomatic consultations of inpatients with cancer at a regional cancer center. Approximately one-fift h of the patient sample presented with panic attacks or panic disorder at t he time of the consultation. We present four case examples to demonstrate t he potential effect of panic on cancer patients, including requests for can cer treatment discontinuation. We report resolution of panic with benzodiaz epine and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.