title: Nonfearful Panic Attacks in Patients With Noncardiac Chest Pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the prevalence and characteristics of nonfearful panic attacks (NFPA) and their consequences on panic identification and access to mental health services in patients with noncardiac chest pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional sample included 339 patients with noncardiac chest pain and panic attacks. A structured interview was used to collect data on panic attacks, psychiatric morbidity, sociodemographic variables, and previous consultations with a psychiatrist or psychologist. Medical files were reviewed to assess the rate of NFPA identification in the emergency department.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our sample of patients with noncardiac chest pain, 39% of those with panic attacks reported NFPA. Psychiatric morbidity was lower in patients with NFPA than in patients with typical panic attacks (49.6% vs 71.1%), as was the mean number of panic symptoms (6 vs 7.8). The rate of panic attack identification was similar in both the groups, but patients with NFPA were less likely to have consulted a psychiatrist or psychologist during their lifetime (34% vs 46%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NFPA were highly prevalent in our sample of emergency department patients with noncardiac chest pain. NFPA is associated with significant psychiatric morbidity but these patients were less likely to follow through with referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist than patients with typical panic attacks were.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (GF-B). Electronic address: guillaume.foldes-busque@psy.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Foldes-Busque
authors.affiliation: Alphonse-Desjardins Health and Social Services Centre, Research Centre of the University-Affiliated Hospital of Lévis, Lévis, Quebec, Canada (GF-B, RPF, ID, JP); Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (RPF, JP).
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Fleet
authors.affiliation: Alphonse-Desjardins Health and Social Services Centre, Research Centre of the University-Affiliated Hospital of Lévis, Lévis, Quebec, Canada (GF-B, RPF, ID, JP).
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.affiliation: Alphonse-Desjardins Health and Social Services Centre, Research Centre of the University-Affiliated Hospital of Lévis, Lévis, Quebec, Canada (GF-B, RPF, ID, JP); Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (RPF, JP).
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poitras
authors.affiliation: Sacré-Coeur Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (J-MC, JGD).
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chauny
authors.affiliation: Sacré-Coeur Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (J-MC, JGD).
authors.forename: Jean G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Diodati
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (AM).
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchand
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors