Anticipatory anxiety and avoidance in panic disorder with agoraphobia

The present study utilized the responses of 34 patients with panic disorder with agoraphobia to investigate the occurrence and anticipation of panic attacks in relation to the avoidance of specific situations from the Fear Questionnaire [Marks & Mathews (1979) Behaviour Research and Therapy, 17, 263-267]. Results indicated that self-reports of avoidance of specific situations were often significantly correlated with the anticipation of panic but rarely with the occurrence of panic. The occurrence and anticipation of panic were also frequently associated with social phobic situations in addition to agoraphobic situations.