top
| |
|
|
|
| |
The Relationship Between Depression, Agoraphobia, and Panic Disorder
|
| |
| Distribution of Affected Subjects Across Mutually Exclusive Diagnostic
Categories |
| N % |
| Depression only |
281 |
68% |
| Agoraphobia only |
62 |
15% |
| Panic Disorder only |
10 |
2% |
| Depression and
Agoraphobia only |
26 |
6% |
| Depression and Panic
Disorder only |
21 |
5% |
| Agoraphobia and Panic
Disorder only |
0 |
0% |
| Depression, Agoraphobia
and Panic Disorder |
16 |
4% |
| Total |
416 |
100% |
|
|
The comorbidity of disorders and chronology of
first symptoms of depression, agoraphobia and panic disorder were
investigated in this study. A particular issue is that panic has been
viewed as an integral part of agoraphobia (those who fear
uncontrollable panic symptoms would be reluctant to go out). To examine
these matters (and others), the responses of 3258 individuals to the
Diagnostic Interview Schedule were subjected to a detailed analysis.
Strong associations were shown among all three disorders. However, the
comorbidity of agoraphobia and panic disorder, seemed to be accounted
for by the relationship between both disorders and depression. That is,
the accompanying Table indicates there are no cases where panic
disorder appears with agoraphobia only - they are only found together
in the presence of depression.This does not support the view that panic
is integral to agoraphobia.
A further finding was that symptoms of agoraphobia appear several years
earlier in life than depression. This casts doubt on the theory that
depression is primary to anxiety disorders. |
| |
Source: Thompson AH, Bland RC, Orn HT (1989). Relationship and
chronology of depression, agoraphobia, and panic disorder in the
general population. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 177(3),
456-463. Click here for a copy. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|