Twenty patients with myasthenia gravis and 15 patients with
polymyositis/dermatomyositis were assessed with a structured interview.
Fifteen patients (43%) were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
Significantly more myasthenic patients (40%) than
polymyositis/dermatomyositis patients (7%) were diagnosed with panic
disorder/agoraphobia. These findings suggest that the symptoms of
myasthenia gravis may predispose vulnerable individuals to panic
disorder/agoraphobia.Abstract Teaser