Background
Several studies have identified increased medical problems among individuals with
panic disorder (PD). We previously found that specific conditions—interstitial cystitis
(IC), mitral valve prolapse (MVP), migraines, and thyroid disorders—aggregated non-randomly
among panic families (we called this the “PD syndrome”) and that families with and
without the syndrome were genetically distinguishable on chromosome 13. We present
data from a new case-control study that replicates and extends the syndrome phenotype
clinically.
Methods
Probands with a definite diagnosis and family history of PD (n = 219), social anxiety disorder (SAD; n = 199), or both (n = 173) and 102 control subjects with no personal/family history of anxiety were interviewed
with the SADS-LA diagnostic instrument. Medical history was obtained via medical checklist
and the family history screen; IC symptoms were assessed with criteria developed by
the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Subjects and
interviewers were unaware of the syndrome hypothesis; final best-estimate diagnoses
were blind to syndrome data.
Results
Probands with PD or SAD, as compared with control subjects, were five or more times
as likely to report IC symptoms and twice as likely to report MVP and migraines (other
genitourinary and cardiovascular problems were not elevated). First-degree relatives
of probands with PD or SAD were also at increased risk for IC, MVP, thyroid problems,
and headaches, regardless of whether the proband reported the same condition.
Conclusions
These findings are consistent with previous data supporting a PD syndrome and further
suggest that this syndrome might include other anxiety disorders well.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 08, 2007
Accepted:
July 26,
2007
Received in revised form:
July 9,
2007
Received:
May 8,
2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
