[Psychophysiological characteristics of panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder].

We studied 34 patients with panic disorder, 32 patients with generalized anxiety disorder and 29 healthy controls using clinical-neurological, psychometric, neuropsychological and neurophysiological (auditory event-related potentials) methods. Patients were characterized by pronounced autonomic dysfunctions, a higher level of anxiety and depression as well as cognitive function disturbances in the form of impairment of short-term memory and directed attention in comparison with healthy controls. Patients with generalized anxiety disorder differed from patients with panic disorder by the higher level of anxiety, greater degree of depression and more expressed disturbances of short-term memory and directed attention. Compared to controls, patients with generalized anxiety disorder had lower P300 amplitudes while the latter was higher in patients with panic disorders. It is concluded that recording of event-related potentials may be used as an additional method of differential diagnosis of these types of anxiety disorders.