Comparison of Depressive Symptoms between Social Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The principal aim of the present study was to investigate the characteristic depressive symptoms in patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) and panic disorder in comparison to patients with depressive disorder. METHODS: This study included 132 patients with SAD, 128 panic disorder and 64 depressive disorder (major depressive disorder, dysthymia etc.) patients without comorbid psychiatric disorders. The Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI) is used to measure depressive symptoms. We divided BDI into three categories originally described by Shafer AB, including negative attitude toward self, performance impairment, and somatic symptoms. We compared the depressive symptoms of SAD, panic disorder and depressive disorder by using ANOVA. RESULTS: Negative attitude toward self was noticeable in SAD (SAD 0.54 +/- 0.23, panic disorder 0.41 +/- 0.17, depressive disorder 0.46 +/- 0.11, p < 0.001). Performance impairment and somatic symptoms were remarkable in panic disorder than in SAD and depressive disorder (performance impairment SAD 0.39 +/- 0.21, panic disorder 0.44 +/- 0.14, depressive disorder 0.40 +/- 0.09, p = 0.009 ; somatic symptoms SAD 0.07 +/- 0.10, panic disorder 0.15 +/- 0.12, depressive disorder 0.14 +/- 0.08, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results facilitate an approach to optimal treatment for patients with comorbidity of anxiety disorder and depression.