Predictors and outcomes in people told that they have panic attacks.

We sought to identify predictors of being told the diagnosis of panic by health care providers and to assess whether being told affected outcomes. We collected data about care-seeking behavior, panic and family characteristics, psychiatric comorbidity, and illness behaviors. Outcomes included psychiatric symptomatology, disability, substance use, and control. Presentation to an emergency department and the number of mental health sites used predicted being told. Patient predictors centered on symptom severity. Being told was not associated with outcomes. Hence, care-seeking from emergency departments and mental health sites as well as symptom severity predicted being told but not better outcomes.