Is early separation anxiety a specific precursor of panic disorder-agoraphobia? A community study.
The present study aimed to examine memories of early separation anxiety symptoms in a community sample of women at heightened risk to neurotic disorder. The chief finding was that subjects with a lifetime history of panic disorder-agoraphobia (PD-Ag) returned statistically higher scores on a retrospective measure of early separation anxiety compared to subjects with either generalized anxiety or other phobic disorders, a result which was not accounted for by differences in neuroticism or General Health Questionnaire scores. Although limited by its retrospective design and the problem of co-morbidity in subclassifying the anxiety disorders, the present study does provide added support for the hypothesis--endorsed by DSM-III-R--that there is a developmental link between early separation anxiety and panic disorder.
Silove
D
D
Academic Mental Health Unit, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Liverpool Hospital, Australia.
Harris
M
M
Morgan
A
A
Boyce
P
P
Manicavasagar
V
V
Hadzi-Pavlovic
D
D
Wilhelm
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors