Nonclinical panic in college students: an investigation of prevalence and symptomatology

J Abnorm Psychol. 1989 Aug;98(3):300-6. doi: 10.1037//0021-843x.98.3.300.

Abstract

This article presents data on the prevalence and symptomatology of panic attacks and panic disorder (PD) in a large nonclinical sample (n = 2,375) of college students. Results showed that approximately 12% of the sample had experienced at least one unexpected panic attack and that 2.36% met DSM-III-R criteria for panic disorder. Although there were no sex differences in overall panic attack prevalence, men reported significantly more panic-related worry than women, and women reported a higher panic frequency than men. Compared to subjects who met DSM-III-R criteria for PD, infrequent panickers presented with fewer panic symptoms, fewer panic episodes, less panic-related worry, lower anxiety sensitivity, and less panic-related avoidance. Moreover, compared with PD subjects, the infrequent panickers were much less likely to report fears of dying, going insane, and derealization during a panic attack. The findings provide preliminary support for the role of anxious apprehension as a psychological vulnerability factor in the pathogenesis of panic disorder.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anxiety / psychology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Fear*
  • Female
  • Gender Identity
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Panic*
  • Psychological Tests
  • Psychometrics