Childhood separation anxiety and panic disorder: a comparative study.
1. The relationship between childhood separation anxiety and panic disorder in adults is analyzed using data from a multicenter trial in 107 patients. 2. The patients included in this study presented anxiety disorder with or without agoraphobia, diagnosed according to DSM-III criteria. 3. The percentage of patients with antecedents of separation anxiety was 17.8% in patients without agoraphobia and 21.7% in patients with agoraphobia. These rates are significantly higher than those encountered in a group of normal controls (4%). 4. The existence of separation anxiety in childhood does not seem to significantly modify the clinical manifestations or severity of panic disorder in the adult.
Ayuso
J L
JL
Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
Alfonso
S
S
Rivera
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000523:psychology; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010200:Panic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales