Clinical features in panic disorder with agoraphobia: a comparison of men and women

J Anxiety Disord. 1998 Nov-Dec;12(6):539-53. doi: 10.1016/s0887-6185(98)00031-0.

Abstract

This study compared 96 women and 58 men suffering from panic disorder with agoraphobia. Participants completed questionnaires assessing various clinical features associated with panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA), general adjustment, and drug/alcohol use. Results showed that PDA is a more severe condition in women. Women reported more severe agoraphobic avoidance when facing situations or places alone, more catastrophic thoughts, more body sensations, and higher scores on the Fear Survey Schedule. Also, women more often had a comorbid social phobia or posttraumatic stress disorder. The lower agoraphobic avoidance of men was associated with their alcohol use. However, there were no differences between genders in other dimensions, including depression, situational and trait anxiety, stressful life events, social self-esteem, marital adjustment, and drug use.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Agoraphobia / diagnosis*
  • Agoraphobia / epidemiology
  • Agoraphobia / psychology
  • Alcoholism / diagnosis
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events
  • Male
  • Marriage / psychology
  • Middle Aged
  • Panic Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Panic Disorder / epidemiology
  • Panic Disorder / psychology
  • Personality Inventory
  • Phobic Disorders / diagnosis
  • Phobic Disorders / epidemiology
  • Psychometrics
  • Self Concept
  • Sex Factors
  • Social Adjustment
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires