Of 35 patients with DSM-III-R diagnoses of panic disorder, 16 also
received diagnoses of social phobia, and 15 of these 16 reported past
episodes of major depression. Only nine of the 19 panic patients without
social phobia had histories of depression. The panic patients with
histories of depression had significantly higher self-ratings of social
anxiety and avoidance, but not agoraphobic fear and avoidance, than those
without histories of depression. Panic disorder and social phobia may
coexist in many cases, and the presence of social phobia may be associated
with a higher morbid risk for major depression in this population.
Abstract Teaser