J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  2015 Oct;19(2):101-107. 10.0000/jkgp.2015.19.2.101.

Comparison of Clinical Characteristics between Early-Onset and Late-Onset Panic Disorder : A Preliminary Study

• Kim MK
• Lee KS
• Sung G
• Lee SH

• KMID: 2186134
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jkgp.2015.19.2.101

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study is to clarify the clinical characteristics of late-onset panic disorder (PD) compared to early-onset PD in symptoms frequency, severity, and quality of life.
METHODS
516 patients with PD were included in this study. Patients with PD onset at 60 or after were grouped (late-onset), and compared with the group with onset at 20 or earlier (early-onset). The following instruments were applied : Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Panic Disorder Severity Scale, Albany Panic and Phobia Questionnaire, Anxiety Sensitivity Inventory-Revised, and Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey. SPSS version 21.0 was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
Late-onset PD was 4.84% of all PD patients, and the mean age was 64.68+/-4.36 years. Late-onset PD exhibited fewer panic symptoms and scored lower on most scales assessing clinical severity. However, the panic-related symptoms severity showed significant negative correlations with scores of quality of life, especially in physical functioning subscale, among the late-onset PD patients.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that less severe panic symptoms may contribute to underdiagnosing PD in this elderly population. However, the panic-related symptoms severity plays an important role in quality of life among the late-onset PD patients. It suggests to implement specific strategies considering the age at onset in clinical approach among patients with PD.

Keyword

Panic disorder; Early-onset; Late-onset; Symptom severity; Quality of life

MeSH Terms

Aged
Anxiety
Depression
Health Surveys
Humans
Panic Disorder*
Panic*
Phobic Disorders
Quality of Life
Weights and Measures