Am J Psychiatry 157:451-453, March 2000
© 2000 American Psychiatric Association
Childhood Trauma and Dissociative Symptoms in Panic Disorder
Randall D. Marshall, M.D.,
Franklin R. Schneier, M.D.,
Shu-Hsing Lin, Ph.D.,
H. Blair Simpson, M.D., Ph.D.,
Donna Vermes, R.N.C., and
Michael Liebowitz, M.D.
OBJECTIVE: Childhood trauma has been associated with increased risk for both panic disorder and dissociative symptoms in adulthood. The authors hypothesized that among individuals with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder, those experiencing depersonalization/derealization during panic attacks would be more likely to have a history of childhood trauma. METHOD: Rates of traumatic events were compared between panic disorder patients with (N=34) and without (N=40) prominent depersonalization/derealization during panic attacks. Symptom severity in the two groups was also examined. RESULTS: Contrary to the authors’ hypothesis, no evidence was found that depersonalization/derealization during panic attacks was associated with childhood trauma. Minimal differences in severity of illness were found between patients with dissociative symptoms and those without such symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This finding is consistent with a multifactorial model of dissociation. Factors other than childhood trauma and general psychopathology may underlie vulnerability to dissociative symptoms in panic disorder.
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A. M. Dietrich
Risk Factors in PTSD and Related Disorders: Theoretical, Treatment, and Research Implications
Traumatology,
March 1, 2001;
7(1):
23 - 50.
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