Abstract
Sleep habits such as shortage of sleep and irregular bed time may be associated with the development and exacerbation of panic attacks, according to clinical impressions. The association remains to be further studied. The present study examined relationship between panic attack and sleep habits in adolescents using self-report questionnaire. Participants comprised Japanese students (N=699) at grades 7–12 from a secondary school in Tokyo. They were required to answer questions on sleep habits, panic attack and mental status (i.e., 12-item General Health Questionnaire). Panic attacks were experienced in 22.7% of the students, according to the questionnaire. The frequency was not different by sex or grade. Watching TV and using internet after midnight was significantly associated with the experience of panic attack after adjusting for grade, sex and depression/anxiety.
