抄録
We studied distinctive characteristics in case histories and family histories of probands in panic disorder and their families, and normal controls, in order to examine the effect of their genetic and environmental factors at the onset of panic disorder. Subjects were 48 probands of panic disorder according to DSM-III-R criteria. The mean (±SD) age at onset was 36.6±12.5 years and ranged from 14 to 55 years. Sex distinction was 20 males and 28 females. Normal controls were 32 hospital employees (12 males, 20 females; mean±SD age=32.4±4.55 years) who volunteered to participate in this study. Among probands of panic disorder, 20 patients (41.7%) had relatives that showed panic disorder, limited symptom attacks, or major depression and other associated disorders in the second degree family. Among them, 16 patients (33.3%) had a family history in the first degree family. Nine patients (18.8%) had a family history of panic disorder only. Patients of panic disorder had significantly more family histories and experienced significantly more numbers of death of relatives, and death of or separation from parents by the age of 15,compared to normal controls. Compared with patients of panic disorder without a family bistory, patients with a family history of panic disorder had more severe symptoms, and experienced significantly more number of life events and death of relatives. Also, patients with a family history showed significantly poor drug response, compared with patients without a family history. However, patients with a family history with horizontal transmission showed significantly good drug response, compared with patients with a family history with vertical transmission. Based on these findings, it was suspected that panic disorder could be labeled as a separate disease category having a high familial aggregation, and it was felt that genetic and environmental factors played a strong causal role in many cases.
