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Indian Journal of Psychiatry logoLink to Indian Journal of Psychiatry
. 2002 Apr-Jun;44(2):125–130.

A FACTOR ANALYTIC STUDY OF PANIC SYMPTOMS

Iby Neerakal *, K Srinivasan *,*
PMCID: PMC2954339  PMID: 21206557

Abstract

We studied 94 panic subjects with a view to identify clinical subtypes of panic disorder. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation of 13 DSM-IV panic symptoms yielded four clinically meaningful factors. Factor I with hot flushes, trembling and sweating was suggestive of a general autonomic hyperactivity. Factor II had cognitive symptoms such as fear of loss of control or going crazy and derealisation. Factor III was mixed in nature but had symptoms of fear of dying and chest pain. Factor-IV had respiratory symptoms in the form of choking sensation and being short of breath. These findings are compared to earlier studies of factor analysis of panic symptoms reported from the West. Clinical implications of sub-types of panic disorder have been highlighted.

Keywords: Panic symptoms, Factor analysis, Sub-types of panic disorder

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Selected References

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