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Agoraphobia with panic attacks and social phobia: a comparative clinical and psychometric study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2020

J. Cottraux ,
E. Mollard  and
A. Duinat-pascal
J. Cottraux
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Psychologie Médicale, Hôpital Neurologique, 59, boulevard Pinel, 69394Lyon, France
E. Mollard
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Psychologie Médicale, Hôpital Neurologique, 59, boulevard Pinel, 69394Lyon, France
A. Duinat-pascal
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Psychologie Médicale, Hôpital Neurologique, 59, boulevard Pinel, 69394Lyon, France
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Summary

Seventy one agoraphobie patients with panic attacks, and 54 social phobics, diagnosed according to DSM III criteria have been compared. The two groups were balanced for age, sex, and educational level. Statistical comparisons of clinical, and psychometric variables differentiated the two groups. Panic attacks frequency characterized the agoraphobie patients, while very low assertion scores on Radius’ Assertiveness Schedule characterized social phobies. An association with simple phobias was more frequently found in agoraphobic patients. Comparable levels of generalized anxiety and avoidance were found in the two groups. MMPI mean profile was more disturbed in social phobics. Psychasthenia scale, and anxiety index, were significantly higher in social phobics. Social phobias started earlier, but these patients sought treatment later, and took less psychotropic medication. There was no correlation between assertiveness and panic attacks frequency in the two sub-samples. Principal components analysis of MMPI scales and Assertiveness Schedule confirmed the heterogeneity of the two syndromes. Results are discussed in regard of the extensive use of panic attacks as a general model of anxiety.

Résumé

Résumé

Soixante et onze patients présentant une agoraphobie avec attaques de panique et 54 phobiques sociaux, diagnostiqués selon les critères du DSM III sont comparés. Les deux groupes ne présentaient pas de différence statistiquement significative quant à l’âge, le sexe, et le niveau d'éducation. La comparaison statistique des variables cliniques et psychométriques différenciait les deux groupes. La fréquence des attaques de panique caractérisait les patients agoraphobes, tandis que des scores très bas sur l’échelle d’affirmation de soi de Rathus caractérisaient les phobiques sociaux. Une association avec les phobies simples était plus fréquemment retrouvées chez les agoraphobes. Le même niveau d’anxiété généralisée et d’évitement était retrouvé dans les deux groupes. Le profil moyen du MMPI était plus pathologique chez les phobiques sociaux. L’échelle de psychasthénie, et l‘index d‘anxiété, étaient significativement plus élevés chez les phobiques sociaux. Les phobies sociales débutaient plus tôt, mais demandaient un traitement plus tard, et prenaient moins de médication psychotrope. Il n‘y avait pas de corrélation entre la fréquence des attaques de panique et le niveau d ‘affirmation de soi sur l’échelle de Rathus. L’analyse en composante principale des échelles du MMPI et de l’échelle d‘affirmation de soi de Rathus confirmait l‘hétérogénéité des deux syndromes. Les résultats sont discutés par rapport à l’usage extensif du concept d’attaque de panique comme modèle général de l’anxiété.

Keywords

social phobiaagoraphobiapanic attackspsychometryepidemiologyphobie socialeagoraphobiepaniquepsychométrieépidémiologie
Type
Original article
Information
Psychiatry and Psychobiology , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , 1988 , pp. 49 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 1988

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Footnotes

*

An earlier version of this paper was presented orally at the European Association of Behaviour Therapy, Lausanne (Switzerland), September 9, 1986.

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