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Original ArticleOpen Access
Panic Disorder in Thailand : A Report on the Secondary Data Analysis
Udomratna P 
Panic disorder (PD) is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses in Thailand but the
picture of PD in Thailand is not clear. Therefore, the objective of this research was to review, sum-
manze, and analyse data from research reports concerning the clinical aspects of PD in Thai-
land.
Relevant papers were searched comprehensively. Four groups of data including prevalence
and incidence rates, sex differences, clinical symptoms during panic attacks, and scores of the
Hamilton anxiety scale (HAM-A) were extracted where available. Data thus obtained were then
grouped and compared.
It was found that 2.1 per cent to 12.4 per cent of patients who visited the psychiatric
outpatient clinic for the first time were diagnosed as having PD. Males were affected at a similar
rate to females with a ranging ratio of female : male from 1.3 : 1 to 0.67 : I. The most common
symptoms during panic attacks were palpitations, chest pain or discomfort, and dizziness or vertigo,
similar to South American studies. Regarding scores of original HAM-A, mean somatic anxiety
scores of PD patients who attended the cardiology clinic were significantly higher than gene-
ralized anxiety disorder patients (15.0
vs
9.8, p < 0.05). PD patients who attended the psychiatric
clinic had higher mean scores of HAM-A when compared to PD patients who visited the car-
diology clinic, but it was not statistically significant (27.7
vs
26.6, p
>
0.05). However, the fear item
of PD patients at the psychiatric clinic had significantly higher scores (2.1) than the other one
(0.7).
The difference between these findings and those of Western studies may be caused by
cultural factors. Thai men tend to react more promptly to panic attacks and seek medical attention
while women mostly attributed their symptoms to "Air Disease". However, incidence rates from
other rural areas are lacking. Before conclusions can be drawn, research on epidemiologic data in
the community should be further investigated.
Key words : Panic Disorder, Panic Attack, Incidence Rate, Hamilton Anxiety Scale
picture of PD in Thailand is not clear. Therefore, the objective of this research was to review, sum-
manze, and analyse data from research reports concerning the clinical aspects of PD in Thai-
land.
Relevant papers were searched comprehensively. Four groups of data including prevalence
and incidence rates, sex differences, clinical symptoms during panic attacks, and scores of the
Hamilton anxiety scale (HAM-A) were extracted where available. Data thus obtained were then
grouped and compared.
It was found that 2.1 per cent to 12.4 per cent of patients who visited the psychiatric
outpatient clinic for the first time were diagnosed as having PD. Males were affected at a similar
rate to females with a ranging ratio of female : male from 1.3 : 1 to 0.67 : I. The most common
symptoms during panic attacks were palpitations, chest pain or discomfort, and dizziness or vertigo,
similar to South American studies. Regarding scores of original HAM-A, mean somatic anxiety
scores of PD patients who attended the cardiology clinic were significantly higher than gene-
ralized anxiety disorder patients (15.0
vs
9.8, p < 0.05). PD patients who attended the psychiatric
clinic had higher mean scores of HAM-A when compared to PD patients who visited the car-
diology clinic, but it was not statistically significant (27.7
vs
26.6, p
>
0.05). However, the fear item
of PD patients at the psychiatric clinic had significantly higher scores (2.1) than the other one
(0.7).
The difference between these findings and those of Western studies may be caused by
cultural factors. Thai men tend to react more promptly to panic attacks and seek medical attention
while women mostly attributed their symptoms to "Air Disease". However, incidence rates from
other rural areas are lacking. Before conclusions can be drawn, research on epidemiologic data in
the community should be further investigated.
Key words : Panic Disorder, Panic Attack, Incidence Rate, Hamilton Anxiety Scale
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