BACKGROUND:

Most prior studies of panic-depression comorbidity have been limited methodologically by use of small clinical samples and incomplete analyses.

AIMS:

General population data were used to study the association of lifetime and recent (12 months) panic-depression comorbidity with symptom severity, impairment, course and help-seeking in the National Comorbidity Survey (NCS).

METHOD:

The NCS is a nationally representative survey of the prevalences and correlates of major DSM-III-R disorders in the US household population.

RESULTS:

Strong lifetime and current comorbidity were found between panic and depression. Comorbidity was associated with greater symptom severity, persistence, role impairment, suicidality and help-seeking, with many findings persisting after controlling for additional comorbid diagnoses. Findings did not differ according to which disorder was chronologically primary.

CONCLUSIONS:

Both lifetime and current panic-depression comorbidity are markers for more severe, persistent and disabling illness. Neither additional comorbid diagnoses nor the primary-secondary distinction were important moderators of these associations.