Somatization in young versus older female panic disorder patients.
OBJECTIVE
Studies in younger patients with panic disorder suggest greater somatization compared to similarly aged normal controls. Thus, we compared the degree of somatization in young versus older female patients with panic disorder to ascertain whether similarly high levels of somatization exist in older panic disorder patients.


METHODS
Community-dwelling subjects were recruited for clinical trials for panic disorder and met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R) criteria for panic disorder as a primary diagnosis. Our sample (N = 64) contained 42 younger females (< 55 years of age; age range 21-54, mean age 34.6) who were compared to 22 older females (> or = 55 years of age; age range 55-73, mean age 60.8). Subjects were evaluated at baseline using the Self-Report Inventory for Somatic Symptoms (SISS). Statistical analysis of total somatization disorder scores (TSDS) was accomplished by t-tests for independent groups.


RESULTS
Older patients showed statistically significantly higher total somatization disorder scores (TSDS) (X = 11.54, SD = 7.45) than did younger patients (X = 8.07, SD = 4.77; t(62) = 2.27, p = < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results are suggestive of a higher degree of somatization in older compared to younger female panic disorder patients.
Sheikh
J I
JI
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305-5723, USA.
Swales
P J
PJ
King
R J
RJ
Sazima
G C
GC
Bail
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology*