title: Towards a 'map' of panic: structure of the bodily symptoms.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra University Hospital, Portugal.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pio-Abreu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramalheira
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Valente
mesh_terms: 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