Panic disorder in a Spanish sample of 89 patients with pure alcohol dependence

High rates of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder (PD), have been f ound in patients suffering from alcohol dependence (AD). It has been sugges ted that alcoholic subjects with PD represent a more severe subgroup of pat ients. Eighty-nine patients with 'pure' AD (without abuse of other drugs) w ere examined and compared for the presence of PD. Several clinical scales w ere administered to assess symptomatology and severity. Twenty-three patien ts (25.8%) met the criteria for PD. The mean age at onset for alcohol use w as 18.7 versus 28.5 years for PD onset. Our finding of an earlier onset for alcoholism than for PD in a sample of Spanish patients illustrates the pot ential importance of transcultural factors. These patients were more likely to be women and to have first-degree relatives with PD. Overall, alcoholic patients with comorbid PD showed greater clinical severity. They were foun d to have more comorbidity with axis I disorders (major depression and dyst hymia), greater clinical severity, and a history of more suicide attempts. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.