RESUMO
Panic disorder is a common psychiatric disorder and is slightly higher in women than men, the age range is between 22-44 years, there is increasing evidence of familial transmission of panic disorder with morbidity risk in first degree relative of 17.3%. To determine the rate of PD among first degree relatives of both probands and control group among a sample of psychiatric out patients with PD and the sociodemographic characteristics of such patients. A sample of sixty probands with their 342 FDRs and a control group of sixty people matched for age and sex with their 314 FDRs were assessed by the use of semi structured psychiatric interview schedule based on diagnostic and statistical manual fourth revision [DSM IV] criteria for diagnosing PD. The rate of PD was high among FDRs of probands [14.9%] than FDRs of control group [3.1%] with female to male ratio of 2:1, most patients were married and living in urban area and were of good educational status. PD was higher among FDRs of case probands than FDRs of control group which suggest a genetic aetiology for PD