Which panic-agoraphobic symptoms could be associated with the presence of autistic traits among patients with panic disorder?

OBJECTIVE

Panic disorder (PD) is a psychopathological condition characterized by short-lived anxiety attacks in association with several physical symptoms, followed by the fear of other attacks' possible occurrence or their consequences and avoidance behaviors. Recent literature highlighted a significant correlation between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and anxiety disorder. To date, the specific association between PD and autistic traits (ATs) remains to be clarified. This study aimed to investigate the presence of an autism spectrum in patients with PD, specifically focusing on the presence of possible factors associated with these conditions.

METHODS

The study recruited 112 subjects: 55 subjects with a clinical diagnosis of PD and 57 healthy controls (HCs). All participants were evaluated with the Panic Agoraphobic Spectrum-Short Version (PAS-SV) and the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) questionnaire.

RESULTS

Results outlined a significant correlation between agoraphobic-panic symptoms and autism spectrum, with significantly positive correlations of all AdAS Spectrum domain scores, as well as its total score with all PAS-SV domains as well as with its total score. Moreover, atypical panic symptoms, and anxious expectation, and maladaptive behaviors were factors associated with a possible underlying presence of higher AT in PD subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support the association between the panic-agoraphobic dimension and ASD. Indeed, increased reactions to stressful life events due to autistic altered sensory reactivity may increase fears responses such as anxious manifestations and maladaptive behaviors.