Nonfearful Panic Attacks in Patients With Noncardiac Chest Pain

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Guillaume Foldes-Busque ; Psy.D. ; Ph.D.^a ; ^{guillaume.foldes-busque@psy.ulaval.ca" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; Richard P. Fleet ; M.D. ; Ph.D.^b ; ^c ; Isabelle Denis ; Psy.D. ; Ph.D.^b ; Julien Poitras ; M.D.^b ; ^c ; Jean-Marc Chauny ; M.D. ; M.Sc.^d ; Jean G. Diodati ; M.D.^d ; André ; Marchand ; Ph.D.^e
• 刊名：Psychosomatics
• 出版年：2015
• 出版时间：September-October 2015
• 年：2015
• 卷：56
• 期：5
• 页码：513-520
• 全文大小：346 K

文摘

To document the prevalence and characteristics of nonfearful panic attacks (NFPA) and their consequences on panic identification and access to mental health services in patients with noncardiac chest pain.

Method

This cross-sectional sample included 339 patients with noncardiac chest pain and panic attacks. A structured interview was used to collect data on panic attacks, psychiatric morbidity, sociodemographic variables, and previous consultations with a psychiatrist or psychologist. Medical files were reviewed to assess the rate of NFPA identification in the emergency department.

Results

In our sample of patients with noncardiac chest pain, 39% of those with panic attacks reported NFPA. Psychiatric morbidity was lower in patients with NFPA than in patients with typical panic attacks (49.6% vs 71.1%), as was the mean number of panic symptoms (6 vs 7.8). The rate of panic attack identification was similar in both the groups, but patients with NFPA were less likely to have consulted a psychiatrist or psychologist during their lifetime (34% vs 46%).

Conclusions

NFPA were highly prevalent in our sample of emergency department patients with noncardiac chest pain. NFPA is associated with significant psychiatric morbidity but these patients were less likely to follow through with referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist than patients with typical panic attacks were.