title: Agoraphobic cognitions in old and young patients with panic disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the agoraphobic cognitions of younger and older patients suffering from panic disorder with agoraphobia by means of existing questionnaires.
  
  
  METHODS
  Agoraphobic cognitions were assessed using the Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire (ACQ) in 205 patients confirmed with confirmed panic disorder with agoraphobia (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, Text Revision) and analyzed at the item level applying a Bonferroni correction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 48 patients who were older than 60 years had a significantly lower mean (SD) ACQ total score than their younger counterparts (1.6 [0.5] versus 2.1 [0.6]; t = 5.7, df = 203, p < 0.001), with their scores on the items fear of going crazy, acting foolishly, losing control, passing out, and brain tumors (p < 0.004) being significantly lower.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differential effect at the ACQ item level suggests that some cognitions seem less relevant for agoraphobic panic disorder in later life. Future research should explore whether and which agerelated cognitions are missed in the current questionnaires.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Integrated Mental Health "Pro Persona," Center of Anxiety Disorders "Overwaal", Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands. ghendriks@overwaal.nl
authors.forename: Gert-Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hendriks
authors.forename: Ger P J
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Keijsers
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kampman
authors.forename: Richard C Oude
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Voshaar
authors.forename: Cees A L
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hoogduin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires