ABSTRACT
Since the introduction of panic disorder as a diagnostic entity in 1980 with the publication of DSM-III, at least five family history studies ( 4 - 8) and seven direct-interview family studies (9-18) have been reported. Every one of these studies has documented an excess risk of panic disorder among the relatives of affected probands. Because agorapho bia is considered an associated condition, several of the studies have reported rates of panic disorder with and without agoraphobia. Table 1 summarizes the direct-interview family studies. Overall, these studies have found that first-degree relatives of probands with panic disorder have about a three-to 17-fold higher lifetime risk of panic disorder compared to relatives of unaffected probands.
