Somatotype in panic patients

Abstract

The aim of the study was to test whether an association exists between asthenic somatotype, as measured by the Quetelet index, and panic and or agoraphobia. Ninety‐nine cases with panic and/or agoraphobia diagnosed at the psychiatric outpatient clinic of a general teaching hospital were compared to 99 controls with psychiatric conditions other than panic and agoraphobia, and to 64 medical controls, matched by age and gender. No differences in weight, height and raw Quetelet and ponderal indexes were found between panic cases and controls. However, 33.3% of cases, but only 19.2% of psychiatric controls and 18.7% of medical controls, were in the asthenic group as defined by the lower quartile of the Quetelet index (age and sex adjusted odds ratio = 2.33, 95% C.I.: 1.21–4.11). In the entire sample, the asthenic somatotype was associated with lower age and with the presence of hypermobility of joints. Since both panic disorder and mitral valve prolapse may be associated with the joint hypermobility syndrome (FHS), an inherited disorder of collagen synthesis, it is suggested that the relationship found between panic and asthenic somatotype might be mediated through FHS. Anxiety 2:80–85 (1996). © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

The relationship between frequency and intensity of fears and a collagen condition

“…The Beighton system is based on measuring the degree of certain standardized movements of the joints, and its reliability has been proven in several previous studies [e.g., Beighton, 1988]. Both JHS and panic anxiety have been related to collagen-altering disorders such as mitral valve prolapse [MVP; Matuzas et al, 1989], Marfan's syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and the asthenic somatotype [Bulbena et al, 1996;Kellet et al, 1981], among others. Studies relating to MVP and anxiety have shown positive results indicating a higher prevalence of panic anxiety in patients with this condition.…”

“…Studies relating to MVP and anxiety have shown positive results indicating a higher prevalence of panic anxiety in patients with this condition. Moreover, patients with panic have shown a significant association between MVP and asthenic somatotype, earlier onset of panic, and higher frequency of attacks [Bulbena et al, 1996;Matuzas et al, 1989]. Results indicating that panic anxiety is more prevalent in people with joint laxity and/or MVP have encouraged an interest in examining how these two conditions interact with common fears.…”