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  Vol. 9 No. 10, November 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Symptom Severity and Perceptions in Subjects With Panic Attacks

David A. Katerndahl, MD

Arch Fam Med. 2000;9:1028-1035.

Objectives  To (1) identify aspects that defined the self-perceived worst panic attack, (2) determine how subjects with panic attacks perceive symptoms compared with control subjects, and (3) determine the role of symptom perceptions in seeking care for the worst panic attack.

Design  Cross-sectional survey.

Setting  Community-based.

Patients or Other Participants  Ninety-seven subjects with panic attacks as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition (with or without panic disorder), and 97 demographically matched controls.

Intervention  None.

Main Outcome Measures  Subjects and controls completed the Symptom Perception Scales, and subjects with panic attacks completed the Acute Panic Inventory and a questionnaire concerning care-seeking behavior for their self-perceived worst attack.

Results  Compared with controls, subjects with panic attacks perceived many symptoms as more embarrassing but differed little in their perceptions of need for treatment, threat to life, and disruption of functioning. Particular symptoms (ie, dyspnea, fear, dizziness, and faintness) tended to differ in most perceptions. However, symptom perceptions did not play a significant role in care-seeking behavior for the worst attack.

Conclusions  Subjects with panic attacks perceive symptoms as more embarrassing than controls, and have different perceptions about particular symptoms. Cognitive approaches addressing negative patient perceptions may reduce anxiety, inappropriate use of health care services, and adverse outcomes.


From the Department of Family Practice, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.



THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Panic & Plaques: Panic Disorder & Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Chest Pain
Katerndahl
J Am Board Fam Med 2004;17:114-126.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  




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