title: Cardiac neurosis and psychopathology.
abstract: Psychiatric illness according to DSM-III-R criteria was investigated in 54 consecutive patients suffering from cardiac neurosis (neurocirculatory asthenia or Da Costa's syndrome). Thirty-seven of the 54 patients (68.5%) were found to suffer from a psychiatric disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia and panic disorder accounted for most of the diagnoses. Panic disorder was frequently preceded by (and associated with) generalized anxiety, phobic avoidance and hypochondriasis. The results should alert the physician to inquire for symptoms of an anxiety disorder when a patient presents with cardiac neurosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Savron
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bartolucci
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grandi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Semprini
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Saviotti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trombini
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Fava
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Magnani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009449:Neurocirculatory Asthenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010200:Panic; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics