The Bodily Panic Symptoms and Predisposing Stressors in Korean Patients with Panic Disorder
10.4306/jknpa.2019.58.4.339
- Author:
Hyun Joo LEE
1
;
Min Sook GIM
;
Se Joo KIM
;
Seon Cheol PARK
;
Jong Chul YANG
;
Kyoung Uk LEE
;
Sang Hyuk LEE
;
Seung Jae LEE
;
Se Won LIM
;
Jeong Ho CHAE
;
Sang Woo HAN
;
Jin Pyo HONG
;
Ho Jun SEO
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2019;58(4):339-345
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES:The purpose of this study was to investigate the distinctive features of bodily panic symptoms and the predisposing conditions in Korean patients with panic disorder.
METHODS:This was a retrospective chart review study and the data were collected from twelve university-affiliated hospitals in Korea. The patients selected met the diagnostic criteria for panic disorder, were older than 20 years of age, and had initially visited a psychiatry department. The assessments included the chief complaints related to bodily panic symptoms, recent stressors, recent history of alcohol and sleep problems, and time to visit an outpatient clinic.
RESULTS:A total of 814 participants were included in the study. The most commonly experienced symptoms were cardiovascular and respiratory symptoms, which were observed in 63.9% and 55.4% of participants, respectively. Just before the onset of a panic attack, 25.6% of participants experienced sleep-related problems. Episodic binge drinking was also frequently observed (13.2%) and was more prevalent in men than in women (22.6% vs. 4.9%, p<0.001). About 75% of participants experienced stressful life events just before panic onset. Work-related issues were more prevalent in men than in women (22.0% vs. 13.4%, p=0.001). Family-related issues (4.8% vs. 14.1%, p<0.001) and conflict with a spouse or partner (4.0% vs.11.7%, p<0.001) were more prominent in women than in men.
CONCLUSION:Our results suggest that cardiovascular symptoms are the most common bodily panic symptoms in Korean patients. Our results suggest that a substantial portion of the Korean patients experienced stressful life events, sleep problems, and/or episodic binge drinking just before the onset of panic disorder.
