Panic-agoraphobic spectrum in obese binge eaters.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the frequency of the panic-agoraphobic spectrum symptoms in a sample of obese subjects affected by Binge Eating Disorder (BED) vs controls.


METHODS
Fifty obese with BED were matched by age, sex and marital status to twenty-five normal weight controls. The Structured Clinical Interview For Panic-Agoraphobic Spectrum--SCI-PAS was administered to all participants.


RESULTS
Obese subjects with BED presented significantly higher frequencies of typical and atypical panic symptoms (82% vs 8%, p<0.0001), agoraphobia (58% vs 12%, p=0.002) and reassurance orientation (56% vs 8%, p=0.001) than controls.


CONCLUSIONS
BED frequently co-occurs with other major psychiatric disorders, traditionally assessed using categorical methods of classification of mental disorders. The spectrum of the subthreshold, atypical and partial symptoms of full-blown mental disorders, often neglected by categorical approach, may also affect subjective well-being and functioning as full-blown disorders. The identification of the subthreshold symptomatology may have relevant implications for the response to treatment and the outcome of the eating disorder.
Zoccali
R
R
Section of Psychiatry. Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. rocco.zoccali@unime.it
Bruno
A
A
Muscatello
M R A
MR
La Torre
D
D
Paterniti
A
A
Corica
F
F
Damiano
M C
MC
Di Rosa
A E
AE
Meduri
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*