Personality traits associated with panic disorder: change associated with treatment.

Abstract

Eighty-two subjects with panic disorder completed the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ) before treatment and again after a period of relatively stable improvement 3 years later. At baseline, panic subjects scored higher than normal control subjects, who had been matched for age and sex, on avoidant, dependent, histrionic, and paranoid personality subscales. Improvement in panic symptoms after 3 years was associated with reductions in these same subscale scores. Examination of individual items that distinguished panic from normal subjects showed themes of dependency, lack of self-confidence, emotional instability, and sensitivity to criticism that reflected demoralization in the panic disorder subjects. To a large extent, the findings reveal nonspecific, state-dependent effects of panic and agoraphobic symptoms on the personality functioning and morale of patients with panic disorder.

• Authors: R Noyes Jr, J H Reich, M Suelzer, J Christiansen
• Journal: Comprehensive psychiatry (Compr Psychiatry) 1991 Jul-Aug Vol. 32 Issue 4 Pg. 283-94 ISSN: 0010-440X [Print] United States
• PMID: 1935017 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Diazepam
• Alprazolam

Topics

• Alprazolam (therapeutic use)
• Behavior Therapy
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Diazepam (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Panic Disorder (psychology, therapy)
• Personality Development
• Personality Disorders (psychology, therapy)