Am J Psychiatry 1986; 143:1569-1574
Copyright © 1986 by American Psychiatric Association
Use of mental health services for the treatment of panic disorder
JH Boyd
The author reports the results of five studies of panic disorder undertaken
as part of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program of the National
Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). This program involves community samples
in New Haven, Conn. (N = 5,034), Baltimore (N = 3,481), St. Louis (N =
3,004), Durham, N.C. (N = 3,921), and Los Angeles (N = 3,132). Diagnoses
were based on the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule and DSM-III. Panic
disorder led the list of disorders for which subjects in the five studies
received ambulatory mental health services. Treatment rates for panic
disorder were as high as or higher than those for somatization disorder,
schizophrenia, and major affective disorders. Furthermore, panic attacks
may have been the reason that many subjects with other disorders sought
treatment.
