Towards a 'map' of panic: structure of the bodily symptoms.
Despite the large amount of research on panic attacks according to DSM criteria, there are some inconsistencies between this and reports from clinical settings. Some naturalistic and non-standard studies are needed. The authors of the present study submitted a list of 24 bodily symptoms to 65 panic patients who had sought medical help. The results of principal-component analysis revealed five factors, four of which represent the forms described in clinical and epidemiological contexts: cephalo-vertiginous, cervico-respiratory, thoraco-cardiac and abdomino-digestive. Each of these factors is differentially related to some specific fearful anticipations, which may organize the symptoms in a body-related topographical way.
Pio-Abreu
J L
JL
Psychiatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra University Hospital, Portugal.
Ramalheira
C
C
Valente
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010552:Personality Assessment; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology