Features of therapy for panic disorder, associated with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Introduction. Due to the significant similarity between the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 acute respiratory syndrome and panic disorder (PD), diagnosis presents significant difficulties. PD tend to develop chronically, with lifelong relapses. Purpose of the work to identify the features of the clinical manifestation of PD in the presence of COVID-19 and to substantiate the optimal therapy regimen. Methods. We analyzed the data of 86 patients who were diagnosed with PD when they applied for a consultative neurological appointment CF UMC from May 2020 to May 2021. Panic disorder was screened according to the Sheehan Anxiety Rating Scale (ShARS). Results. Among the patients there were 54 (62.8%) women and 32 (37.2%) men. On the ShARS scale, severe anxiety disorder (80 points and higher) was identified in 39 (45.3%), in the rest anxiety (from 30 to 80 points) was clinically expressed. The diagnosis of PD in 21 (24.4%) was diagnosed earlier than contracting a covid infection. The rest were exposed for the first time to 26 (30.2%) patients who had not previously visited a neurologist and 39 (45.3%) patients who visited a neurologist with diagnoses of somatoform autonomic dysfunction, vascular cephalgia, migraine, obsessive-compulsive disorder. A history of bronchial asthma was observed in 13 (15.1%) cases. The types of panic attacks were regarded as large (extensive) PR (4 symptoms or more) - in 55 (64%), in other cases as symptomatically poor. The peculiarity of the course of PR against the background of SARS-CoV-2 is determined by the occurrence of hypochondriac phobias against the background. At the same time, agoraphobia and avoidant behavior characteristic of PD were not observed. Conclusion. The use of benzodiazepines for anxiolytic purposes, anti-asthma drugs may be counterproductive in the treatment of anxiety disorders. The iatrogenic risk is superimposed on possible hypokalemia, prolongation of the QTc interval, arterial hypertension caused by COVID-19. Evaluation of the results of the neuropharmacological analysis and the appointment of drugs with anxiolytic action Bifren, in more severe cases of Pregabin in PR showed a clinical positive effect.