NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The seemingly disparate conditions of panic disorder, interstitial cystitis and thyroid abnormalities may be components of a hitherto unidentified genetic syndrome, researchers report in the March issues of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Dr. Myrna M. Weissman of Columbia University, New York, and colleagues note that they previously reported that panic disorder, "a highly familial complex genetic disorder with heritability," was associated with other disorders, particularly bladder and thyroid problems, mitral valve prolapse and headache. Review of those study subjects' medical records revealed that symptoms of the bladder problems were highly suggestive of interstitial cystitis.

To further extend these findings, the researchers studied patients attending urology clinics. Involved were 67 patients with interstitial cystitis, 79 with other bladder diseases associated with underlying anatomic causes and 815 first-degree relatives.

Compared to patients without interstitial cystitis, those with the condition had a 4.05 times greater lifetime prevalence of panic disorder. For the other syndrome disorders, such as mitral valve prolapse and headache, the corresponding odds ratio was 2.22.

First-degree relatives of patients with interstitial cystitis were approximately three times as likely to have interstitial cystitis and thyroid problems and had twice the risk of panic disorder compared with first-degree relatives of the other subjects.

The authors suggest that autonomic dysregulation may be the underlying cause of these disorders and conclude that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and corticotropin-releasing hormone, used in the treatment of panic disorder, may also be of benefit in those with interstitial cystitis.

Arch Gen Psychiatry 2004;61:273-279.

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