Chest pain, cardiac disease, and panic disorder.
Chest pain is one of the most frequent symptoms prompting presentation to a medical clinic. In primary care, more than 80% of patients are found to have no organic etiology for chest pain. Even among selected patients referred for coronary arteriography, 10% to 30% have little or no evidence of coronary artery disease. Recent studies suggest that panic disorder is a common cause of chest pain in patients with negative cardiac test results. Panic disorder can also occur along with a chronic medical illness, such as coronary artery disease, and may lead to physiologic worsening of that illness with more frequent episodes of chest pain.
Katon
W J
WJ
Division of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D010200:Panic