12-month prevalence of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia in the Swedish general population.

OBJECTIVE

The present study examined the prevalence of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia according to DSM-IV criteria in the Swedish general population.

METHOD: Data were obtained by means of a postal survey administrated to 1000 randomly selected adults. The panic disorder module of the World Health Organization's Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was included in the survey.

RESULTS

12-month prevalence was estimated at 2.2 % (CI 95 % 1.02 % - 3.38 %). There was a significant sex difference, with a greater prevalence for women (5.6 %) compared to men (1 %).

CONCLUSION

The Swedish panic disorder prevalence is relatively consistent with findings in most other parts of the western world.