Life events in childhood, adolescence and adulthood and the relationship to panic disorder

N. Horesh, M. Amir, P. Kedem, Y. Goldberger, M. Kotler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the association between stressful life events (SLE) and the development of panic disorder (PD) in an Israeli sample. A total of 44 PD patients and a matched control group were studied with regard to SLE over the life cycle (in childhood, adolescence, adulthood and the year preceding the outbreak of the disorder). The major findings were as follows. (i) With regard to the total number of life events experienced in childhood and adolescence, the PD group had experienced significantly more life events than the control group. (ii) No differences were detected in the total amount of SLE between the PD group and the control group with regard to adulthood and the year preceding the outbreak of the disorder, although the PD group had more life events relating to loss in adulthood, whereas in the year before the outbreak of PD life events relating to 'love and family', negative and loss events were more prevalent. These results expand previous findings by demonstrating that SLE in childhood and adolescence may contribute to the development of PD in adulthood.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)373-378
Number of pages6
JournalActa Psychiatrica Scandinavica
Volume96
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1997

Keywords

  • Adolescence
  • Adulthood
  • Childhood
  • Life events
  • Panic disorder

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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