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The Structure of Phobias in Panic Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Nick Argyle*
Affiliation:
Formerly of Cornell University Medical College, Department of Psychiatry; White Plains, New York, USA
Carol Solyom
Affiliation:
Behavior Therapy Unit, Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver
Leslie Solyom
Affiliation:
Behavior Therapy Unit, Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
*
Department of Psychiatry, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, London HA1 3UJ

Abstract

Fear and avoidance of individual phobic situations were measured in 1168 patients with panic disorder suffering current attacks. Correlation and principal-components analyses give components of agoraphobia, illness phobia, and social phobia in panic disorder. Agoraphobia does not stand out so clearly as illness phobia and social phobia as a separate factor; ‘fear of open spaces' shows some separation from other agoraphobic situations. Frequency of panic attacks and changes associated with their remission have no special relationship to agoraphobia. Closer attention to social and illness phobia may be fruitful in discerning the evolution of panic disorder.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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