Ninety-one patients with panic attacks limited historically to
depressive episodes had more severe depressive symptoms and were less
likely to recover during a 2-year follow-up than 417 depressed patients who
did not have panic attacks. Family study data clearly distinguished another
15 patients with panic disorder and secondary depression; interviewed
relatives of panic disorder patients were significantly less likely to have
primary depression and significantly more likely to have various anxiety
disorders. These data support the hierarchical system by which many of the
contemporary diagnostic systems separate panic disorder and major
depression.
Abstract Teaser