Quality of life in panic disorder: the influence of clinical features and personality traits

Abstract

Objective To identify which clinical features and personality traits are associated with quality of life (QoL) in panic disorder (PD) patients. Methods This was a cross-sectional study with PD patients. The brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Big Five Inventory (BFI) were used to assess QoL and personality traits respectively. The strength of correlations was measured with Pearson’s, Spearman’s, and point-biserial correlation coefficients. We also performed multiple linear regressions, considering sociodemographic data and scores from clinical scales as independent variables and QoL scores as dependent variables. Results A total of 98 patients were evaluated. Depressive symptoms had a strong negative correlation with QoL and, to a lesser extent, panic and anxiety symptoms were also negatively correlated with QoL. While consciousness, extraversion, and agreeableness had mild positive correlations with QoL, neuroticism had a strong negative correlation. Conclusion Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and panic seem to have a negative impact on the QoL of PD patients. Personality traits, especially neuroticism, may also influence QoL in these patients.

Correlates of Quality of Life in Anxiety Disorders: Review of Recent Research

“…Recent research reaffirms these findings, documenting the direct effects of symptom severity and diagnostic status on QOL for individuals with anxiety disorders. Specifically, anxiety symptom severity was inversely associated with QOL among adolescents with anxiety [12][13][14], adults with anxiety [15][16][17][18][19][20][21], andolder adults with anxiety [22]. Research within communitybased samplesunderscores the severity of QOL impairments for individuals with moderate tohigh levels of anxiety symptoms (e.g., [14]) and suggests that early intervention couldbe key to preventing severe functional impairment.…”

“…Depression comorbidity emerged as a particularly notable correlate with QOL in anxiety disorders. Depression symptoms demonstrated a strong inverse correlation with QOL among individuals with GAD and PD [15,54]. Among individuals with SAD, only those with comorbid depression or OCD reported greater disability and lower QOL than those without comorbidity [52•].…”

The 2019 Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Staff Survey: Determining the Level and Predictors of Quality of Life

“…Scores for each scale were later summed up and categorized as normal, mild, moderate, severe, and extremely severe. For depression, the total scoring was categorized as follows: normal (0-9), mild (10-13), moderate (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), severe (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27), and extremely severe (more than 28). For anxiety, the total scoring was categorized as normal (0-7), mild (8)(9), moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), severe (15)(16)(17)(18)(19), and extremely severe (more than 20).…”

“…For depression, the total scoring was categorized as follows: normal (0-9), mild (10-13), moderate (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), severe (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27), and extremely severe (more than 28). For anxiety, the total scoring was categorized as normal (0-7), mild (8)(9), moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), severe (15)(16)(17)(18)(19), and extremely severe (more than 20). For stress, the total scoring was categorized as normal (0-14), mild (15)(16)(17)(18), moderate 19-25), severe (26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33), and extremely severe (34 and above).…”

“…Studies in the general population had shown that factors and predictors such as older age (12), depression (13), anxiety (14)(15)(16)(17), stress (18), chronic medical illness (19)(20)(21)(22)(23), poor financial status (24)(25)(26), low level of education (27,28), being single (29), family problem (30)(31)(32), and poor job satisfaction (33,34) may negatively affect QOL (35,36). However, there are limited data available pertaining to QOL among university staff.…”