Panic disorder and idiopathic cardiomyopathy.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated whether, among a population of cardiac patients, there is a preferential association between idiopathic cardiomyopathy (CMP) and Panic Disorder (PD).


METHODS
A total of 93 patients with cardiac failure, 50 of them with CMP, 43 with other cardiac diseases, underwent a standard psychiatric examination using the MINI neuropsychiatric interview.


RESULTS
While half of the subjects met the criteria for a psychiatric disorder, PD was no more prevalent in the CMP group compared to other patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the high prevalence of psychiatric pathology, particularly anxiety, mood, and alcohol-related disorders, in patients with cardiac failure. However, previous findings on the specific association between CMP and PD could not be replicated.
Griez
E J
EJ
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, University of Maastricht, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Mammar
N
N
Loirat
J C
JC
Djega
N
N
Trochut
J N
JN
Bouhour
J B
JB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology