Course of social functioning after remission from panic disorder

While symptom status and social functioning have been observed to be correl ated in many cross-sectional studies, little is known about the time course of change in functioning after a change in diagnostic status. Using data f rom a large longitudinal study of anxiety disorders, we present analyses of the time course of seven domains of social functioning up to 18 months bef ore and after remission from panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. Th e effect of remission from panic disorder varies by domain. Four domains sh ow a change in outcome, usually positive, after remission. The presence of major depressive disorder (MDD) affects the course of functioning for two d omains. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was observed to have effects on five of seven domains. For some domains there is improvement at approximate ly the same time as change in diagnostic status, although progressive chang e was seen in others. The amount of improvement was modest on average, indi cating that other factors beyond panic symptoms may limit post-remission im provement in social functioning. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Compan y.