Panic attack-associated placental abruption: a case report.

A case of placental abruption is described in a nonmedicated pregnant woman with panic disorder who experienced panic symptoms and resultant hypertension. The authors suggest that sympathetic arousal associated with panic symptoms may have an adverse effect on the fetoplacental unit. The potential impact of untreated anxiety symptoms on fetal well-being must be considered when deciding whether pharmacotherapeutic intervention is appropriate for certain patients with anxiety disorders.