The effect of panic attack on mitral valve prolapse.

It has been reported that panic attacks might cause mitral valve prolapse (MVP) via haemodynamic or indirect effects. Such prolapse can be classified as being physiological (benign course) or pathological (poor course). It is therefore important to consider whether panic attacks, as a risk factor for MVP, are associated with its physiological or pathological type. Our study sample consisted of two groups of patients with panic disorder (PD), one having onset within 1 year (n=24) and the other with a history of more than 10 years (n=21). Demographic data, symptom presentations, auscultatory and echocardiographic findings of both groups were compared, but no significant difference was found except with regard to anticipatory anxiety. It is concluded that panic attack exerts no significant effect on mitral valve prolapse.