The authors examined the longitudinal course of affective illness
retrospectively in 63 patients with social phobia and 54 patients with
panic disorder. Significantly fewer (35%) of the patients with social
phobia than patients with panic disorder (63%) had experienced at least one
major depressive episode. Patients with generalized social phobia and
patients with specific social phobia had comparable past rates of major
depression (37% and 30%, respectively). The clinical and theoretical
implications of these findings are discussed within the context of current
concepts regarding the development of depressive symptoms in patients with
anxiety disorders.Abstract Teaser