title: Panic-phobic patients and developmental trauma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Miami, Fla.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giron
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mellman
mesh_terms: 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