title: [The first panic attack: a missed chance for prevention of panic disorder and its complications].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment and analysis of first medical consultations and their significance in panic disorder patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  90 panic disorder patients were interviewed concerning their experiences with the medical system at the time of their first panic attack.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Panic disorder patients contacted mostly non-psychiatric medical services at the time of their first panic attack. The correct diagnosis was established in only 4 cases (5.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An important chance for secondary prevention of the development of panic disorder is missed, probably due to the poor education of physicians on panic attacks.
authors.affiliation: Klinische Abteilung für Sozialpsychiatrie und Evaluationsforschung, Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie, Wien.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amering
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dantendorfer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Windhaber
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katschnig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010348:Patient Care Team