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Panic Disorder in Clinically Referred Children and Adolescents

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Abstract

Prevalence, phenomenology, comorbidity, functional impairment and familial correlates of juvenile panic disorder (PD) are described in this study. A clinical interview (Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents-Revised) was administered to 220 children and adolescents consecutively referred to a Division of Child Neurology and Psychiatry. 23 subjects (10.4%), aged 7 to 18 years, fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for PD. Reported panic symptoms are described, according to gender and chronological age. High comorbidity with generalized anxiety disorder (74%) and depression (52%) was noted. Agoraphobia (56%) and other phobias (56%) were significantly more frequent than in two control groups of subjects with generalized anxiety disorder and with depression. Antecedent and/or associated separation anxiety disorder was reported in 73% of the patients. Functional impairment, assessed with a specific diagnostic instrument (Children's Global Assessment Scale) was significantly greater in PD patients than in depressed or anxious patients. 90% of patients had at least one parent with an anxiety disorder, 52% had one parent with depressive disorder, 33% had one parent with drug treated PD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IRCCS Stella Maris, Division of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Via dei Giacinti 2, 56018, Calambrone (PI), Italy

    Gabriele Masi

  2. Division of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pisa; IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa

    Letizia Favilla, Maria Mucci & Stefania Millepiedi

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  1. Gabriele Masi
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  2. Letizia Favilla
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  3. Maria Mucci
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  4. Stefania Millepiedi
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Masi, G., Favilla, L., Mucci, M. et al. Panic Disorder in Clinically Referred Children and Adolescents. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 31, 139–151 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001948610318

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