Panic attacks and their relation to psychological and physical functioning in Canadians: results from a nationally representative sample.

Objective: US-based studies have suggested that panic attacks (PA) are common and associated with an increased prevalence of mental disorders and poorer quality of life, and may be a marker of severe psychopathology. Using a population-based survey with a greater sample size than has been previously used, we sought to determine the prevalence rates and correlates of PAs among Canadians aged 15 years and older.

Method: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition classification was used to determine the past-year prevalence of PAs in the Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being (n = 36,984, aged 15 and older, response rate = 77%). Psychological and physical function variables were compared among people with PAs, with panic disorder (PD), and without PAs.

Results: The prevalence of past-year PAs was 6.4%. Compared to people without PAs, those with PAs had poorer overall functioning for disability, mental disorders, suicidal ideation, psychological distress, restriction of activity, chronic physical conditions, psychological well-being, and self-rated physical and mental health. PD was associated with poorer overall functioning than PAs for numerous variables; however, there were no significant differences between these 2 panic groups for several other variables.

Conclusions: Though associated with less severe impairment than PD in some domains, PAs are associated with mental health problems and reduced overall psychological and physical functioning and may be an indicator of more severe psychopathology.