Panic attacks and physical health problems in a representative sample: Singular and interactive associations with psychological problems, and interpersonal and physical disability

Background: Panic attacks may be a risk marker for a variety of psychological problems and are associated with increased impairment in a host of domains. However, previous studies have not investigated the role of physical illness in the panic attack-disability relations, which is striking due to findings that physical illness is linked to both panic attacks and disability. The present investigation examined the singular and interactive effects of panic attacks and physical illness in relation to psychological, interpersonal, and physical types of impairment. Method: Adult participants (4,745) recruited from the statewide Colorado Social Health Survey were administered the diagnostic interview schedule. Results: As predicted, main effects of panic attacks and physical illness were significantly related to psychiatric comorbidity, depressive symptoms, interpersonal functioning, physical functioning, and perceived general health (p < .05 for all associations). Also as predicted, interaction of panic attacks and physical illness was significantly related to all of the outcome variables (p < .05 for all associations). Conclusions: These findings suggest that individuals with both panic attacks and physical illness experience elevated disability across a variety of dimensions.