EEG abnormalities have been frequently reported in patients with panic
disorder, although controlled studies are lacking. The authors examined the
EEGs of 35 consecutively evaluated, medication-free patients with panic
disorder and found that only five (14%) had nonspecific abnormal EEGs and
none displayed EEG evidence supportive of an ictal process. The presence or
absence of EEG abnormalities was not significantly associated with the
presence or absence of psychosensory symptoms. Although it is not likely
that panic disorder is an epileptiform disorder, temporal lobe and limbic
structures probably play a major role in the pathophysiology of panic.Abstract Teaser