Panic disorder

Definitions & Key takeaways

Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, which typically peak within the first 10-20 minutes though some might last hours. A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear or discomfort that can include physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, chest pain, sweating, shaking, and difficulty breathing.

Sometimes panic disorder gets so bad that the person stops engaging in activities that they think could trigger an attack, severely hampering their ability to function in day-to-day life.

The management may involve a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most effective psychotherapy for panic disorder. Medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can also be helpful.

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I’m sure you’ve heard someone say or joke about “having a panic attack,” but panic attacks are very real situations where someone has a sudden period of intense fear or discomfort that something bad’s going to happen, and that there’s some imminent threat or danger.
These feelings are often so intense that they’re accompanied by physiological symptoms like heart palpitations, dizziness, or shortness of breath.
These symptoms peak within the first 10-20 minutes, but some might last hours. Sometimes patients having a panic attack might feel as though they’re having a heart attack or some other life-threatening illness.
Panic attacks can happen even in familiar places where there are no real threats, and therefore they’re unpredictable, which can further increase anxiety about when the next panic attack is going to happen.
In order to be characterized as a panic attack, the Diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders, the fifth edition, or DSM-V, says patients need to have an abrupt onset of four of the following thirteen symptoms: pounding heart or fast heart rate, chest pain or discomfort, , sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, chills, numbness, feelings of choking, feelings of being detached from oneself, fear of losing control, and fears of dying.
Admittedly, some of these symptoms might naturally happen together, and so they can be very hard to tease apart. For example, it would be unusual for a person that is sweating, feeling dizzy, and feeling chills, to also not be trembling.
It’s also important to note that some of these are physical symptoms whereas others are specific thoughts/ideas. Panic attacks can happen in the context of several mental disorders including depressive disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse disorders.
It can also, however, happen in the context of a panic disorder, which is basically defined by the panic attacks being recurrent, meaning 2 or more, and unexpected.
In addition, the DSM-V says that for somebody to be diagnosed with a panic disorder, they also need to have persistent worry or change in behavior because of their panic attacks.
Also, the panic attacks can’t be due to the effects of some substance, like an illicit drug or medication. Finally, the panic attacks aren’t better explained by some other anxiety disorder, like agoraphobia or social anxiety disorder.
Patients with a panic disorder can’t predict where the panic attack will happen next, so it’s important to get treated before patients develop something called avoidance, which is when they actively avoid the places where one previously happened.
They might stop doing activities that they think might trigger the attacks, like going to the park, riding in elevators, or driving.
Avoiding these situations might temporarily reduce symptoms of anxiety about having a panic attack, but it makes daily life really tough, right?
And ultimately doesn’t stop the attacks from happening. Sometimes patients get anxiety just thinking about the possibility of having a panic attack, and this is called anticipatory anxiety.
Anticipatory can be particularly debilitating because it might cause the patient to be reclusive and choose to endure the attacks alone instead of risking an attack in public—this situation can actually lead to the development of agoraphobia, a fear of going into crowded spaces.
Panic disorder is twice as common among women as men, and it appears to have a genetic component and run in families, although we don’t know exactly what causes it.
Treating someone with panic disorder usually involves psychotherapy, medication, or both. Cognitive behavior therapy has been an effective type of psychotherapy for patients with panic disorder, and this relies on five fundamental steps.
First, they just learn about panic disorder, and how to identify certain symptoms. Second, they monitor their panic attacks using a diary.
Third, they work on breathing and relaxation techniques. Fourth, they start rethinking and changing their beliefs about the severity of a panic attack from totally catastrophic to a realistic level.
Fifth, they allow themselves to be exposed to situations that provoke fear and anxiety. Now if medications are used, antidepressants like SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed, which have sedative and relaxing effects.
Anti-anxiety medications might also be prescribed, like benzodiazepines, which also have a relaxing effect, although the use of anti-anxiety medications can sometimes lead to unwanted side effects like tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal.
If very severe, anti-seizure medications may sometimes be prescribed. Overall though, between cognitive behavior therapy and medication, many patients can be effectively treated for panic disorder.