Obsessive-compulsive disorder and separation anxiety co-morbidity in early onset panic disorder.
BACKGROUND
This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between anxiety co-morbidity and age of onset of panic disorder.


METHODS
Age of onset of panic disorder and co-morbid anxiety disorders were assessed among 201 panic disorder probands with childhood separation anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, social phobia and specific phobia as part of a clinician-administered lifetime diagnostic interview. A generalized linear model was used to test the association between each anxiety co-morbidity and age of panic disorder onset while simultaneously controlling for the potential confounding effects of sociodemographic characteristics and other psychiatric co-morbidity.


RESULTS
Earlier onset of panic disorder was found in patients with co-morbid obsessive-compulsive disorder, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and separation anxiety disorder, but not simple phobia or social phobia. Patients with both childhood separation anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder had an even earlier panic onset than those with either childhood separation anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between anxiety co-morbidity and earlier onset of panic disorder is specific to obsessive-compulsive disorder and childhood separation anxiety disorder.
Goodwin
R
R
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons/New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York 10032, USA.
Lipsitz
J D
JD
Chapman
T F
TF
Mannuzza
S
S
Fyer
A J
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors