Obsessions with aggressive content emerging during the course of panic disorder: a different subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder?
We report the clinical and therapeutic features of three patients with an obsessive-compulsive syndrome that emerged during the course of panic disorder. The DSM-IV criteria for panic disorder places central attention on the patient's phobic responses to the panic attacks and their perceived consequences. These phobic responses may develop into a syndrome that closely resembles obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) but typically responds to conventional anti-panic approaches. Our cases suggest that patients with OCD should be probed for an underlying panic disorder. This 'panic disorder-related subtype of OCD' may be associated with an excellent treatment response and increased rates of remission.
Fontenelle
Leonardo F
LF
Institute of Psychiatry of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (IPUB/UFRJ), Icaraí-Niterói-RJ, Brazil. lfontenelle@gmail.com
Mendlowicz
Mauro V
MV
Kalaf
Juliana
J
Domingues
Aline M
AM
Versiani
Marcio
M
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002997:Clomipramine