Panic disorder on a child psychiatric consultation service.
In a review of all cases seen from 1984 to 1988 by the psychiatric consultation-liaison service of a tertiary referral pediatric hospital, four cases of definite panic disorder meeting DSM-III-R criteria were identified. Three of these children were referred to the consultation service after intensive investigation of physical complaints had failed to yield a diagnosis. These cases of panic disorder differed from those previously reported in child psychiatric populations by their relative absence of psychiatric comorbidity. This suggests that uncomplicated panic disorder may present with primarily somatic symptoms in pediatric subspecialty clinics, while panic disorder, complicated by behavioral or emotional disturbance, is more likely to present directly to child psychiatric services. Children presenting with somatic symptoms are at risk for receiving nonproductive investigations while having delayed diagnosis and treatment of the panic disorder.
Garland
E J
EJ
University Hospital-UBC Site, Vancouver, Canada.
Smith
D H
DH
D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010200:Panic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis