ABSTRACT
The mean age of onset of panic disorder is around 25 years. However, there appears to be a bimodal distribution (see page 16). It is of note that a significant proportion of people with panic disorder (7-11%) have their first panic attack very early in life, even before the age of 10 (Pollack and Smoller 1995, Faravelli and Paionni 1999). Quality of life and associated disability (Table 11)
In recent years, the functional impairment of patients with panic disorder has acquired some prominence in the diagnosis of the condition, alongside the frequency of panic attacks and the presence of agoraphobia (Fyer et al 1996). The experience of depression also indicated that quality of life is very important when the efficacy and optimal length of various treatments are discussed. Furthermore, health services and health-care organizations are constantly under pressure to balance the need for provision of treatment with restricted resources and cost considerations. Therefore, understanding the extent to which panic disorder affects patients’ lives as a whole is a key issue when it comes to planning for appropriate services.
