Panic disorder and perceived parental rearing behavior investigated by theJapanese version of the EMBU scale

Although recent studies have found dysfunctional parental rearing behaviour is associated with certain aspects of psychopathology of panic disorder (P D), the results are not in complete agreement By using a translated Japanes e version of the EMBU (Egna Minnen Betraffande Uppfostran), we investigated the parental rearing behavior perceived by 103 normal subjects, 71 PD pati ents with agoraphobia, and 32 PD patients without agoraphobia. The PD patie nts scored both parents as more rejecting and over-protective than did the. controls. However, subgroup analysis showed that the patients with agoraph obia reported significantly more rejection from both parents and less emoti onal warmth from mothers, while the patients without agoraphobia, by contra st, reported more overprotection from both parents and more favouring subje ct from fathers than did the controls. Interestingly, these results were co nsistent with those documented in the Western literature, which reported "a ffectionless control" as a parenting style in PD, and furthermore, indicate d a moss-cultural similarity of parental rearing factor. In addition, it wa s suggested that a lack of care might be associated with the development of agoraphobia in Japan. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.