Nonfearful panic disorder in chest-pain patients: status after nine-year follow-up.
BACKGROUND
Nonfearful panic disorder (NFPD) is a type of panic disorder (PD) that was first described in 1987 among cardiology patients who had panic attacks without the experience of fear. NFPD may be considered a subtype of PD with significant impact on the long-term outcome of chest pain patients.


OBJECTIVE
The authors sought to explore the long-term outcome of NFPD and PD.


METHODS
Authors studied 199 patients previously referred to cardiology outpatient investigation because of chest pain. Assessments comprising cardiological and psychiatric (SCID-I) examinations were conducted after 9 years.


RESULTS
At follow-up, no patients suffered from NFPD, but 18% had panic disorder with fear (PD). There were no significant differences between the baseline NFPD (N=11) and PD (N=44) patients regarding psychiatric comorbidity, chest pain, healthcare utilization, and health-related quality of life at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
NFPD can have a significant impact on the long-term outcome of chest pain patients even though they may not seek psychiatric treatment.
Bringager
Christine B
CB
Department of Research and Education, Psychiatric Division, Ullevaal University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway. christine.bringager@medisin.uio.no
Gauer
Katrine
K
Arnesen
Harald
H
Friis
Svein
S
Dammen
Toril
T
D002309:Cardiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires