This study reports on early developmental events and family background of patients with panic anxiety disorder (PAD) admitted to an anxiety disorders treatment clinic serving a disadvantaged urban population. A standardized set of interviews was administered to 42 subjects, 31 with PAD and 11 without PAD (NPAD), to determine histories of childhood physical or sexual abuse, childhood psychiatric disorders, and current personality disorders. PAD patients reported higher levels of disturbed childhood environments, particularly separation, and physical and emotional abuse; childhood anxiety disorders; and adult personality disorder. Multiple patterns of abuse were the rule. An abusive background appears to be an important antecedent to the formation of PAD. These findings support our thesis that the traumatic background of patients is an important factor that allows anxiety disorder to be passed down generations.
Disturbed childhood inventory. This assessment measures disturbances at the hands of parents or primary caretakers before age 18 (Table II). Abuse was reported in 11 (35%) of the 31 PAD and 2 (18%) of 11 NPAD patients. Physical abuse was reported in 11 (35%) PAD subjects and in 1 (9%) NPAD case, typically involving repeated beatings that led to some degree of physical injury in the child. Sexual abuse was rated as present in 3 (10%) PAD subjects and 2 (18%) NPAD subjects. Two of the PAD subjects were male; 1 boy was forced to perform fellatio on a caretaker, and the other was made to watch parental sexual activities.
Correlation. Significant intercorrelations between permanent separation, physical and emotional abuse, childhood anxiety, and adult PAD were obtained at the P<.01 level of significance.