Nocturnal panic attacks are considered in PD patients a severe subtype of the illness. Recent studies failed at identifying more severe psychopathology in these patients. We analyzed this issue in a sample in the earlier phases of PD.

A sample of 153 patients (107 women and 46 men) with a recent onset of a PD established with the MINI was included. Patients were free of treatment and had never received effective treatment for their disorder. Data were obtained both from the clinical interview and from specific questionnaires concerning severity (PDSS, CGI), agoraphobia (MIA), anxiety (STAI) and depression (BDI). The presence of nocturnal attacks was assessed during the clinical interview.

The median time of evolution of the PD was 8 months. The mean age of the sample was 30 years old. Agoraphobia was diagnosed in 66% of the cases and the mean CGI was 4.22 (moderate). More than half of the patients (52.9%) reported nocturnal panic attacks. A positive relationship was found between rate of panic attacks and nocturnal attacks (PDSS frequency: p=0.002; number of attacks in the last month: p=0.02). A positive relationship appeared with agoraphobia (PDSS agoraphobic avoidance: p=0.05; MIA alone: p=0.02). No relationship appeared regarding CGI and scales concerning psychopathology.

Half of the patients in first stages of PD reports nocturnal panic attacks, which are related both to an increased rate of panic attacks and an increased agoraphobic avoidance. However, nocturnal attacks are not related with the whole clinical severity of PD.