Clinical and sociocultural differences in African American and European American patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia

Abstract

Much attention has been paid to the study of panic disorder symptomatology among primarily European American populations. However, such research has not adequately generalized to include minority groups. The present study examined phenomenological differences between African American and European American patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. African American (N = 48) and European American (N = 33) patients with panic disorder were assessed by structured interview and self-report questionnaires upon presentation to an anxiety disorders clinic for treatment. African Americans evidenced a higher rate of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (16% vs. 0%). European Americans reported having their initial panic attack at an earlier age than African Americans (21 vs. 29). In terms of discrete panic attack symptoms, African Americans reported more intense levels of numbing/tingling in extremities (4.3 vs. 2.5) as well as greater fear of dying (6.3 vs. 4) or going crazy (4.6 vs. 3) than European Americans. African Americans evidenced less satisfaction with social support (2.7 vs. 3.2), especially financial support (2.3 vs. 3.2), than European Americans. African Americans employed coping strategies such as counting one's blessings (1.9 vs. 1.4) and religiosity (1.9 vs. 1.2) more often than European Americans but evidenced less self blame (1.7 vs. 2). This study extends previous findings by showing that African Americans have a later age of onset as well as different coping strategies than European American patients with panic disorder.