One hundred panic disorder patients (aged 17-60 yrs) were compared with a similar number of normal controls on the Arabic version of the Whitley Index (1967) hypochondriacal scale and a panic symptoms questionnaire to elucidate the difference between panic patients and normal pupulation in rating the severity of symptoms of panic and hypochondriasis. The correlation between panic symptoms and hypochondriasis in each group was explored. Results showed that panic disorder patients in both groups scored higher on hypochondriasis. It also showed that the ideational component is relevant to both panic and hypochondriasis. The nature and consistency of both diagnostic categories are discussed.