Influence of Psychiatric Comorbidity on Recovery and Recurrence in Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, and Panic Disorder: A 12-Year Prospective Study

• DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.162.6.1179
• Publication Date: 2005-06-01T14:49:27Z
• Authors: Steven E. Bruce; Kimberly A. Yonkers; Michael W. Otto; Jane L. Eisen; Risa B. Weisberg; Maria Pagano; M. Tracie Shea; Martin B. Keller
• Keywords: Agoraphobia; Specific phobia

OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to observe the long-term clinical course of anxiety disorders over 12 years and examine influence comorbid psychiatric on recovery from or recurrence panic disorder, generalized social phobia. METHOD: Data were drawn Harvard/Brown Anxiety Disorders Research Program, a prospective, naturalistic, longitudinal, multicenter study adults with current past history disorders. Probabilities calculated by using standard survival analysis methods. Proportional hazards regression analyses time-varying covariates conducted determine risk ratios for possible predictors recurrence. RESULTS: Survival revealed an overall chronic majority Social phobia had smallest probability after follow-up. Moreover, patients who prospectively observed their intake disorder high follow-up period. was worsened several conditions, including major depression alcohol other substance use disorders, comorbidity agoraphobia. CONCLUSIONS: These data depict as insidious, course, low rates recovery, relatively probabilities presence particular significantly lowered likelihood increased findings add understanding nosology treatment these