title: [Psychosocial and clinical predictors of the disease course in patients with cardiac phobia and panic attacks].
abstract: Patients suffering from cardiac phobia or neurocirculatory asthenia (also known as cardiac neurosis or effort syndrome) represent a uniform disease group due to the typicality of the signs and symptoms and of the course of the disease; this group should be distinguished from the broad spectrum of cardiovascular disorders. There is close agreement with panic disorder according to DSM III, one of the reasons being that cardiac phobia was originally the model pattern for defining that disorder. In the present prospective study the significance of psychosocial and clinical factors for the prediction of the further course of the disease was studied in 36 patients with cardiac phobia treated on an inpatient basis for the first time, 29 of whom could be followed up by a checkup 2 1/2 years later. The duration of the disease before treatment, as well as difficulties in various social spheres, especially in partnership problems, were found to be variables exercising a particularly strong influence on the course of illness. The variables concerning the marital status and school education were also found to be statistically relevant predictors. Familial stress and the appeal-for-help behaviour of these patients were also recorded. The results of the study point to the importance of psychosocial factors as major coursemodifying factors and underline the need to pay particular attention to this part of the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik, Wien.
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Nutzinger
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic / Q000379:methods; D004316:Doxepin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009449:Neurocirculatory Asthenia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010200:Panic / Q000187:drug effects; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010556:Personality Tests; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012380:Role; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment
chemical_list: D004316:Doxepin
vernacular_title: Psychosoziale und klinische Prädiktoren für den Krankheitsverlauf bei Patienten mit Herzphobie und Panikattacken.