Background: Gray (1982) proposed that the septo-hippocampal system, which plays an important role in learning and memory, may partially mediate anxiety. Thus, patients with anxiety disorders may manifest neurocognitive performance deficits. We hypothesized that patients with panic disorder would demonstrate learning and memory deficits relative to normal comparison subjects.
Method: Comprehensive neuropsychological batteries were administered to 69 panic disorder subjects and 19 normal volunteers.
Results: There were no significant group differences in any neuropsychological performance domain including learning, memory, attention, visuospatial functioning, and psychomotor speed. Multiple regression conducted to evaluate the contribution of clinical symptoms to neuropsychological impairment within the panic disorder sample revealed that anxiety severity did not affect neuropsychological test performance.
Limitations: Most patients had mild or moderate, rather than severe, panic disorder.
Conclusion: Neuropsychological dysfunction was not associated with panic disorder.