BALANCE COMPLAINTS AND PANIC DISORDER - A CLINICAL-STUDY OF PANIC SYMPTOMS IN MEMBERS OF A SELF-HELP GROUP FOR BALANCE DISORDERS

The purpose of this study was to assess symptoms of panic and agoraphobia by questionnaire in subjects presenting to a self-help group for patients with balance disorders. Of 227 patients contacted, 103 responded. Twenty-one met criteria for panic disorder, and an additional nine met criteria for agoraphobia. Compare to subjects without a history of panic attacks (n = 45), balance disordered subjects with panic disorder and agoraphobia had an earlier age of onset of symptoms and higher levels of both anxiety and depression. Alternative hypotheses for explaining this assocation are discussed.