R. Zoccali, G. Pandolfo, M.R.A. Muscatello, A. Bruno, P. Chirico
Pratticò, C. Tripodi, M. Malara, D. La Torre, M. Meduri
- Vol. 10, December 2004, Issue 4
Testo Immagini Bibliografia Summary Indice
Sintomi dello spettro panico agorafobico
in soggetti affetti da broncopneumopatia cronica ostruttiva
Panic-agoraphobic spectrum symptoms in subjects with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease
Objective
The prevalence of full-blown Panic Disorder is higher in subjects
with pulmonary diseases than in community samples. The study evaluated the
presence of subthreshold symptomatology of the Panic-Agoraphobic Spectrum
in subjects affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Methods
The sample was formed by 50 subjects (30 males and 20 females, mean age
= 68.46 ± 7.74) affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The control
group consisted in 50 healthy subjects (30 males and 20 females) matched for
sex, age and educational level. The Structured Clinical Interview for Panic-Agoraphobic
Spectrum (SCI-PAS) was administered to both groups.
Results
The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for two independent samples showed significant
differences between the two groups in the SCI-PAS domains: Panic symptoms
(p < 0.0001), Anxious expectation (p < 0.0001), Agoraphobia (p <
0.0001) and Reassurance Orientation (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions
The presence of a subthreshold symptomatology of the Panic-Agoraphobic
Spectrum should be adequately evaluated for the possibile repercussions on
the course of pulmonary disease; moreover, this symptomatology should require
a specific psychopharmacological treatment.