Background Given the observed association between panic disorder and bipolar disorder
and the potential negative influence of panic symptoms on the course of bipolar illness, we
were interested in the effects of what we have defined as" panic spectrum" conditions on the
clinical course and treatment outcome in patients with bipolar I (BPI) disorder. We
hypothesized that lifetime panic spectrum features would be associated with higher levels of
suicidal ideation and a poorer response to acute treatment of the index mood episode in this …