Which clinical factors delay proper treatment in panic disorder? A cross‐sectional multicentric study

Abstract

AbstractAimThe aim of the present study was to identify clinical and socio‐demographic factors associated with duration of untreated illness (DUI) in patients affected by panic disorder (PD).MethodsData were collected from patients' medical records (N = 157) of two mental health services respectively located in Milan and in Monza (Italy). Correlation analyses and analysis of variance (ANOVAs) were run to analyse the relation between DUI and quantitative/qualitative variables respectively. Statistically significant variables in uni‐ variate analyses were then inserted in a linear multivariable regression model (backward procedure).ResultsMean DUI was 27.33 (±50.56) months. Patients with an earlier age at onset (r = −0.270; p < .01), a longer duration of illness (r = 0.483; p < .01) and who received a lifetime psychotherapy (F = 6.86; p = .01) had a longer DUI. The final global model showed that a longer DUI was associated with pre‐onset poly‐substance misuse (p = .05) and a longer duration of illness (p < .01).ConclusionThe results of our study showed that a longer DUI was predicted by clinical factors such as the presence of a pre‐onset poly‐substance use disorder and that delayed proper treatment can lead to a chronicization of PD, as indicated by a longer duration of illness. Further studies are needed to in‐depth investigate the role of DUI in influencing the course and outcome of anxiety disorders, including PD.