The authors investigated the prevalence & clinical characteristics of panic disorder among African-Americans & whites in a community study. The lifetime prevalence of panic disorder was 1.2% among African-Americans & 1.4% among whites, a nonsignificant difference. Comparisons between African-Americans & whites on age at onset, years with panic disorder, symptom distribution, suicide attempts, & comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders also revealed no significant differences. (15 Refs.)