Panic Attack as a Risk Factor for Severe Psychopathology

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between panic attack and the onset of specific mental disorders and severe psychopathology across the diagnostic spectrum among adolescents and young adults. METHOD: Data were drawn from the Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology Study (N=3,021), a 5-year prospective longitudinal study of psychopathology among youths ages 14–24 years at baseline in the community. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between panic attacks at baseline, comorbid mental disorders in adolescence, and the risk of mental disorders across the diagnostic spectrum at follow-up. RESULTS: The large majority of subjects with panic attacks at baseline developed at least one DSM-IV mental disorder at baseline (89.4% versus 52.8% of subjects without panic attacks). Subjects with panic attacks at baseline had significantly higher baseline levels of any anxiety disorder (54.6% versus 25.0%), any mood disorder (42.7% versus 15.5...