Immediate and delayed visual memory and recognition in patients with panic disorders.

BACKGROUND In Panic Disorder (PD) both somatic and cognitive symptoms occur. Cognitive functions which may be involved with anxiety and maladaptive cognition such as e.g. attention, memory and perception might be decreased. MATERIAL AND METHODS Within the preliminary studies eleven patients diagnosed with panic disorder (DSM-IV-TR), and nine healthy controls were studied. The severity of disorder was measured by the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale. To assess working memory Delayed Match to Sample (DMS) with CANTAB (Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery) was used. RESULTS Percent of correct answers was significantly different in both groups in delayed visual memory and recognition test. In the control group results were higher (M=92.22) than in the experimental group (86.06). CONCLUSIONS PD is associated with impaired performance on a DMS task that requires the stable maintenance of representations in working memory.