Impulsivity and Panic Disorder: an exploratory study of psychometric correlates.

BACKGROUND Impulsivity is associated with a wide variety of psychiatric disorders. However, the relationship between anxiety and impulsivity is not well explored. The objective of this study was to examine whether anxiety symptoms correlate with impulsivity in patients with panic disorder. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We examined 21 psychotropic drug-naove patients with panic disorder recruited from the outpatient setting. The severity of Panic Disorder was assessed with Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (PAS)-clinical rating version. Impulsivity was evaluated with Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, 11th version (BIS-11). RESULTS Our findings indicate the correlation between specific dimensions of impulsivity and selected subscales of Panic and Agoraphobia Scale. The positive correlation between attentional and non-planning dimensions of impulsivity, 'disability' and 'worries about health' in drug-naove patients with PD was observed. CONCLUSIONS The findings corroborate with the prior reports of higher impulsivity trait among patients with anxiety disorders.