The familial prevalence in second-degree relatives of patients with anxiety neurosis (panic disorder)

A family history study of second-degree relatives of 19 patients with anxiety neurosis (panic disorder) and 19 controls showed a morbidity risk of 9.5% among the former compared with 1.4% among the latter. These risks were approximately half those found among first-degree relatives. Female relatives were at higher risk for anxiety neurosis. The risk for other psychiatric illnesses did not differ between the relatives of anxiety neurosis and controls.