Citation

Ségui J, Márquez M, Canet J, Cascio A, Garcia L, Ortiz M. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2001; 63(2): 117-121.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/s0376-8716(00)00178-2

PMID

11376915

Abstract

High rates of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder (PD), have been found in patients suffering from alcohol dependence (AD). It has been suggested that alcoholic subjects with PD represent a more severe subgroup of patients. Eighty-nine patients with 'pure' AD (without abuse of other drugs) were examined and compared for the presence of PD. Several clinical scales were administered to assess symptomatology and severity. Twenty-three patients (25.8%) met the criteria for PD. The mean age at onset for alcohol use was 18.7 versus 28.5 years for PD onset. Our finding of an earlier onset for alcoholism than for PD in a sample of Spanish patients illustrates the potential importance of transcultural factors. These patients were more likely to be women and to have first-degree relatives with PD. Overall, alcoholic patients with comorbid PD showed greater clinical severity. They were found to have more comorbidity with axis I disorders (major depression and dysthymia), greater clinical severity, and a history of more suicide attempts.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Alcoholism; Comorbidity; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depressive Disorder, Major; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Dysthymic Disorder; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Panic Disorder; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Risk Factors; Spain