Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) has been observed more frequently than expected among patients who report the current experience of panic attacks. The MVP observed has been generally of a mild variety and has not been associated with clinically meaningful variables in studies to date. In the current study, 82 patients with panic disorder (PD) who were recruited for a study of the drug treatment of PD were assessed for the presence of MVP, and patients with and without MVP were compared on several variables. Statistically significant findings were that patients with MVP were younger and more often female; reported an earlier age of onset of PD and more frequent panic attacks; and had a higher ponderal index, lower weight, and lower levels of triiodothyronine than patients without MVP. Contrary to previous studies, these results suggest that the presence of MVP among patients with PD is associated with potentially meaningful differences. While generalizability may be limited and causal relationships speculative at this time, the variables identified in this study deserve more explicit attention in future studies of PD and MVP.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

AIDS and suicide.

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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1987

School climate: psychological health and well-being in school.

This article explores several aspects of a healthy school climate. Beginning with a general discussion, it also examines elements of school climate such as interpersonal relationships and supportive instructional practices. A discussion of the school as a human social system that lends itself to a problem-solving approach to identify, explore, and resolve issues of psychological climate in school is included.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1987

Mitral valve prolapse and thyroid abnormalities in patients with panic attacks.

Panic disorder has been associated with mitral valve prolapse and thyroid abnormalities. Mitral valve prolapse has also been associated with thyroid abnormalities. The authors studied a consecutive series of 65 patients self-referred for evaluation of panic attacks, who were examined for cardiac and thyroid abnormalities. Fifty percent of the patients had mitral valve prolapse according to both cardiac auscultation and echocardiography. Twenty-six percent of the women had some thyroid abnormality; 17% had thyroid microsomal antibodies. There was no apparent relationship between mitral valve prolapse and thyroid abnormalities. These observations suggest that panic attacks, mitral valve prolapse, and autoimmune thyroid disorders are associated.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

The value of self-report assessment in studies of anxiety disorders.

This review compares the sensitivities of a physician-rated scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS), and a patient-rated scale, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL), in detecting the anti-anxiety effects of benzodiazepines in a large sample of placebo-controlled trials. Scales and subscales were compared within the same study, a methodologic feature unique to this review. The total score, psychic factor, and somatic factor of the HAS were equally sensitive to the effects of benzodiazepines. The total score, anxiety factor, and somatization factor of the HSCL also were equally sensitive. The HAS total score, however, was consistently more sensitive than any of the HSCL scores. There was no evidence that physicians used side effects to make their ratings more sensitive. Sedative side effects, however, adversely affected the sensitivity of patient ratings. The data suggest that patient ratings reflect a cost-benefit computation taking account of both antianxiety and sedative effects.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗

PubMed1985

Realities not myths.

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American Medical Association↗

PubMed1985

Situational and neurotic-reactive depression.

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Adjustment Disorders↗

PubMed1984

Psychotherapy. Scientific art or artistic science?

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Clinical Trials as Topic↗