A naturalistic 6-year follow-up study of patients with panic disorder.
A clinical sample of 55 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for panic disorder (PD) were enrolled in this long-term study. The patients were treated initially with alprazolam or imipramine during a period of 9 weeks. A clinical psychiatric examination was carried out at the beginning and at the end of the initial treatment period and 3 and 6 years after the enrollment. Although most of the patients (74%) had no panic attacks at the end of the 6-year follow-up period, 9 (18%) had major depression and 6 (11%) severe suicidality. Seven of these depressive patients also suffered from alcoholism. Sixty per cent of the patients were still on medication at the end of the follow-up. Depression, suicidality and alcoholism seem to be the long-term consequences of PD.
Lepola
U
U
Psychiatric Research Clinic, Kuopio, Finland.
Koponen
H
H
Leinonen
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D007099:Imipramine; D000525:Alprazolam