Nonfearful panic disorder in chest-pain patients: status after nine-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND

Nonfearful panic disorder (NFPD) is a type of panic disorder (PD) that was first described in 1987 among cardiology patients who had panic attacks without the experience of fear. NFPD may be considered a subtype of PD with significant impact on the long-term outcome of chest pain patients.

OBJECTIVE

The authors sought to explore the long-term outcome of NFPD and PD.

METHOD: Authors studied 199 patients previously referred to cardiology outpatient investigation because of chest pain. Assessments comprising cardiological and psychiatric (SCID-I) examinations were conducted after 9 years.

RESULTS

At follow-up, no patients suffered from NFPD, but 18% had panic disorder with fear (PD). There were no significant differences between the baseline NFPD (N=11) and PD (N=44) patients regarding psychiatric comorbidity, chest pain, healthcare utilization, and health-related quality of life at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

NFPD can have a significant impact on the long-term outcome of chest pain patients even though they may not seek psychiatric treatment.