[Separation anxiety and panic disorder].

History od separation anxiety was investigated in several psychiatryc disorders and in 150 patients with panic disorder following DSM III-R criteria. Separation anxiety was reported by 15.3% of patients with panic disorder, 3.3% of the healthy control group, 13.3% of patients with major depression, 16.7% with dystymia, 13.3% with generalized anxiety and 33.3% with social phobia (p < 0.001). Separation anxiety is thus considered a common predisposing factor of anxiety and depressive disorders. Panic disorder patients with a history of separation anxiety had an earlier age at panic onset and greater comorbidity with social phobia and agoraphobia.