Reports that imipramine and phenelzine prevent panic attacks in
agoraphobia suggest the possibility that agoraphobia and/or panic disorder
might be a clinical manifestation of underlying depression. To test this
hypothesis, dexamethasone suppression tests (DSTs) were performed in 10
patients meeting DSM-III criteria for agoraphobia with panic attacks, 6 for
panic disorder, and 4 whose diagnosis could have been either panic disorder
or agoraphobia except that another axis I disorder precluded such a
diagnosis. Abnormal DSTs were observed in only 3 patients and appeared to
be attributable to causes other than panic attacks or agoraphobia. The
results suggest that panic attacks and endogenous depression are separate
disorders and that the antipanic properties of imipramine and phenelzine
are separate from their antidepressant actions.Abstract Teaser