Panic disorder

Alternative names

Panic attacks

Definition

Panic disorder involves repeated, unpredictable attacks of intense fear accompanied by severe anxiety symptoms in the body that may last from minutes to hours.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The exact cause of panic disorder is unknown. There is an influence of heredity - studies suggest that if one identical twin has this disorder, the other will also develop panic disorder 40% of the time. In addition, panic disorder has environmental and learning influences, as it often occurs in family members who are not genetically related to each other.

Panic disorder occurs twice as often in women as in men. Approximately 2% of the population is affected each year. A person with panic disorder often lives in fear of another attack and may be reluctant to be alone or to be far from medical assistance.

Symptoms usually begin before the age of 25. Although panic disorder may occur in children, it is often not diagnosed until the person is older. People with this condition often undergo medical evaluations for symptoms related to Heart attack or other conditions before the diagnosis of panic disorder is made.

Symptoms

With panic disorder, at least 4 of the following symptoms abruptly occur within 10 minutes, and attacks may be followed by at least a month of persistent fear of having another attack.

• Sensation of Shortness of breath or smothering
  
• Dizziness or faintness
  
• Palpitations or Pounding heart
  
• Trembling or shaking
  
• Sweating, chills, or hot flashes
  
• Feeling of choking
  
• nausea or upset stomach
  
• Numbness or tingling
  
• Chest pain or discomfort
  
• Fear of dying
  
• Fear of losing control
  
• Feelings of unreality
  
• Feelings of detachment
  

There are often extreme changes in behavior - at home, school, work, or with family. People with the disorder often worry about the significance of their panic attacks - they may think they are "going crazy" or having a.