The dexamethasone suppression test in panic disorder and agoraphobia

Abstract

As imipramine and phenelzine prevent panic attacks in agoraphobia the possibility that agoraphobia and/or panic disorder might be a clinical manifestation of underlying depression was tested. Dexamethasone suppression tests (DST) were performed in 10 patients meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III criteria for agoraphobia with panic attacks, 6 for panic disorder and 4 whose diagnosis could have been either panic disorder or agoraphobia except that another axis 1 disorder precluded such a diagnosis. Abnormal DST were observed in only 3 patients and were evidently attributable to causes other than panic attacks or agoraphobia. Panic attacks and endogenous depression are apparently separate disorders and the antipanic properties of imipramine and phenelzine are separate from their antidepressant actions.