Psychosomatics
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As many as 25% of patients with chest pain who come to hospital emergency departments have panic disorder. Rates of panic disorder are even higher among those who present for outpatient evaluation of their chest pain. ⋯ A meta-analysis of the findings revealed five variables that appear to correlate with higher rates of panic disorder among persons who present with chest pain: 1). absence of coronary artery disease, 2). atypical quality of chest pain, 3). female sex, 4). younger age, and 5). a high level of self-reported anxiety. Further studies of these and other variables associated with panic disorder should aid in the detection of this disabling but treatable cause of chest pain.