ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This report examines the clinical features and correlates of juvenile panic disorder in referred children and adolescents to test specific hypotheses about its relationship with adult panic disorder. METHOD: The sample consisted of consecutively referred children and adolescents (N = 472) comprehensively evaluated with structured diagnostic interviews, cognitive tests, and psychosocial assessments. RESULTS: Panic disorder was identified in 6% and agoraphobia in 15% of psychiatrically referred children and adolescents. Children meeting criteria for panic disorder also frequently met criteria for agoraphobia. The latter disorder was more prevalent and had an earlier age at onset than panic disorder. Children with panic disorder and those with agoraphobia had similar correlates with frequent comorbidity with other anxiety and mood disorders. A high level of comorbidity with disruptive disorders was also identified. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the hypothesis of continuity between the juvenile and the adult form of panic disorder. However, the high level of comorbidity with disruptive behavior disorders also suggests developmentally specific discontinuities between juveniles and adults with panic disorder.
Subject(s)
Agoraphobia/epidemiology , Panic Disorder/epidemiology , Panic Disorder/physiopathology , Adolescent , Adult , Analysis of Variance , Case-Control Studies , Chi-Square Distribution , Child , Child Behavior Disorders/epidemiology , Comorbidity , Confidence Intervals , Female , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Neurotic Disorders/epidemiology , Prospective StudiesSubject(s)
Anxiety, Separation/psychology , Child Development , Absenteeism , Adolescent , Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , Anxiety, Separation/diagnosis , Anxiety, Separation/therapy , Behavior Therapy , Child , Child, Preschool , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Phobic Disorders/diagnosisABSTRACT
The Meese Commission Report claimed exposure to sexually explicit material leads to sex offenses and recommended examining developmental patterns and pornography experiences of offenders. This second phase of our study examines developmental patterns and sexually explicit material experiences of sex offenders, a subgroup of child molesters, and controls. Results indicate sex offenders (but not the child molester subgroup) began masturbating at a significantly younger age than controls. Sexually explicit material was used during the first masturbatory experience of 33.3% of sex offenders and 14% of controls. Child molesters were significantly older than controls when exposed to sexually explicit material. Frequency of adult use of sexually explicit material does not differ significantly among groups.
