PHOBIC SYMPTOMS AS PREDICTORS OF NONRESPONSE TO DRUG-THERAPY IN PANIC DISORDER PATIENTS (A PRELIMINARY-REPORT)

Factors that predict nonresponse to drug therapy (brofaromine or fluvoxamine) were investigated in a sample of 44 panic disorder patients. We used a strict definition of nonresponse to find patients who did not respond at all after 12 weeks of treatment. Using this definition, 15 patients (32.6%) were considered nonresponders. Nonresponders had a higher score on the Blood-Injury subscore of the Fear Questionnaire (FQ) and more often had high scores on several FQ subscores, indicative of comorbid phobic symptoms. These variables were subsequently used to predict nonresponse.