The Epidemiology of Panic Attacks, Panic Disorder, and Agoraphobia in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication
Year: 2006
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: CONTEXT: Only limited information exists about the epidemiology of DSM-IV panic attacks (PAs) and panic disorder (PD). OBJECTIVE: To present nationally representative data about the epidemiology of PAs and PD with or without agoraphobia (AG) on the basis of the US National Comorbidity Survey Replication findings. DESIGN AND SETTING: Nationally representative face-to-face household survey conducted using the fully structured World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview. PARTICIPANTS: English-speaking respondents (N=9282) 18 years or older. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Respondents who met DSM-IV lifetime criteria for PAs and PD with and without AG. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence estimates are 22.7% for isolated panic without AG (PA only), 0.8% for PA with AG without PD (PA-AG), 3.7% for PD without AG (PD only), and 1.1% for PD with AG (PD-AG). Persistence, lifetime number of attacks, and number of years with attacks increase monotonically across these 4 subgroups. All 4 subgroups are significantly comorbid with other lifetime DSM-IV disorders, with the highest odds for PD-AG and the lowest for PA only. Scores on the Panic Disorder Severity Scale are also highest for PD-AG (86.3% moderate or severe) and lowest for PA only (6.7% moderate or severe). Agoraphobia is associated with substantial severity, impairment, and comorbidity. Lifetime treatment is high (from 96.1% for PD-AG to 61.1% for PA only), but 12-month treatment meeting published treatment guidelines is low (from 54.9% for PD-AG to 18.2% for PA only). CONCLUSION: Although the major societal burden of panic is caused by PD and PA-AG, isolated PAs also have high prevalence and meaningful role impairment.
Source: Archives of General Psychiatry
Institution: Harvard University
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G1037158725, World Mental Health Consortium Annual Meeting 2003-07, G2237026874, Social Role Disability and Mental-Physical Co-Morbidity, Drug Dependence Epidemiology and Enviromics, G33223526, CROSS-NATIONAL STUDIES OF DRUG INVOLVEMENT: WMH2000, G4134838996, Risk Factors for Psychopathology in the WHO WMH Surveys, World Mental Health Consortium Annual Meetings 2008-2012, Epidemiology - National Comorbidity Survey Replication, G851565850, Lebanon-Epidemiology: The NCS Replication Study
OpenAlex ID: W2129336638