Panic-phobic patients and developmental trauma.
BACKGROUND
Several studies suggest high rates of developmental trauma among adult anxiety disorder patients. We attempted to replicate these findings in patients with panic disorder, agoraphobia, and/or social phobia in comparison with a nonclinical population and to evaluate possible relationship of traumas and phobic subtypes.


METHODS
Fifty-one patients with panic disorder with agoraphobia and/or social phobia were assessed for lifetime diagnoses using interviews and rating scales and for developmental trauma by the Life Experience Questionnaire (LEQ). Fifty-one demographically similar nonclinical subjects completed a questionnaire that included the LEQ and screening questions for lifetime psychopathology.


RESULTS
Childhood trauma was reported by 63% (N = 32) of the patients (vs. 35% or 18 of comparison subjects and 24% or 9 of subjects negative for lifetime psychopathology; chi 2 = 7.7, df = 1, p < .01). Sexual and/or physical abuse histories (and not separation and/or loss) were significantly increased in the patient group and were most specifically associated with social phobia.


CONCLUSIONS
We find a similar, increased rate of childhood trauma as has been reported in previous studies of anxiety disorder patients. In our findings, this most specifically represents an association of social phobia and sexual/physical abuse histories.
David
D
D
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Miami, Fla.
Giron
A
A
Mellman
T A
TA
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008426:Maternal Deprivation; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010333:Paternal Deprivation; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index