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Family Transitions and Developmental Processes in Panic‐Disordered Patients
Author(s) -
Oppenheimer Kim,
Frey Joseph
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
family process
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.011
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1545-5300
pISSN - 0014-7370
DOI - 10.1111/j.1545-5300.1993.00341.x
Subject(s) - panic disorder , dysfunctional family , psychology , stressor , panic , clinical psychology , anxiety disorder , developmental psychology , multivariate analysis of variance , psychiatry , anxiety , machine learning , computer science
Although there is increasing evidence for a familial role in panic disorder, little research exists on the family interaction patterns and relational stressors that may contribute to this disorder. Using DSM‐III‐R criteria, 52 families were classified into Panic Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Nonclinical Control groups. A semi‐structured interview and self‐report measures were then used to examine family processes. MANOVA results were highly significant, suggesting that, compared to depressed and nonclinical control families, panic‐disordered families had unresolved life‐cycle issues, were enmeshed, used triangulation, and failed to resolve conflicts. These findings suggest that dysfunctional family processes may be involved in the expression and maintenance of panic disorder.