What is Panic Disorder

The basics on panic

If you've been diagnosed with panic disorder, you may be wondering how your treatment provider came to that conclusion. Or maybe you haven't talked to a health professional yet, but you're sure you've been having panic attacks and you'd like to find out exactly what a panic attack is. Or maybe you know someone with panic disorder, and you'd like to understand.

Panic disorder is one of several anxiety disorders. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), anxiety disorders are the most common of all psychiatric disorders. In the United States alone, 23 million people suffer from anxiety disorders. The anxiety disorders include agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Panic Attacks

Panic disorder is marked by recurrent, spontaneous panic attacks

A panic attack is an intense period of fear or discomfort. During the attack, a person may experience the following symptoms:

Noticeably quick or pounding heartrate
Pain or other discomfort in the chest
Sweating
Shaking
Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
Dizziness
Tingling sensations
Fear of going crazy or losing control
Fear of dying
Derealization or depersonalization
Choking sensation
Nausea
Cold or hot flashes

To be diagnosed as a panic attack, four or more symptoms should be present. Otherwise, the attack is described as "limited symptom attack." Those who experience panic attacks usually describe them as occurring "out of the blue."

Panic Disorder

One panic attack does not result in a diagnosis of panic disorder. In fact, many people experience a panic attack at some time in their lives, and, while the experience may be a bit disconcerting, it doesn't result in panic disorder.

To become panic disorder, the initial panic attack will be followed by one month (or more) of one (or more) of the following:

Constant worry about having another panic attack Constant worry about the cause of the attack (i.e., heart attack)
Major behavioral change related to the panic attack

In addition, it should be determined that the panic attacks are not the result of other conditions:

A substance (drug abuse, medication)
A physiological condition (i.e., hyperthyroidism)
Another psychiatric disorder (particularly other anxiety disorders)

In other words, it's important to have a complete physical to rule out all possible causes, and it's important to find a mental health provider who specializes in anxiety disorders to rule out other possible diagnoses.

The Importance of Treatment

More than one researcher believes panic disorder to be a chronic condition.¹ Indeed, for many, the severity of panic disorder seems to fluctuate over time.²

The chronic nature of panic disorder emphasizes the need for early and appropriate treatment. The NIMH finds a combination of medication and cognitive-behavior therapy to work the best for the most people. Individual needs, however, vary, so the person with panic disorder and the treatment provider should be willing to keep trying until the most effective treatment is found.

If untreated, panic disorder often becomes more and more disabling. The initial panic attack is followed by chronic worry and, usually, more attacks. Many people begin to avoid places and situations where they've had panic attacks. This can lead to another disabling condition called "agoraphobia." As their lives become more limited, some people become depressed. Others turn to alcohol or drugs to self-medicate the symptoms. Relationships and jobs may be severely affected. These terrible possibilities may be avoided, however, with quick and proper treatment.

Self-Diagnosis

Self-diagnosis may help you talk more clearly about your problems with your treatment provider. Sometimes it's difficult to put those intense symptoms into words. Reading about panic disorder may help. On the other hand, self-diagnosis should not be a substitute for professional diagnosis. As mentioned above, panic attacks may indicate physiological problems. And panic attacks also appear with other anxiety disorders. It is important to discuss your concerns with a professional and to have all possible problems ruled out first.

Source Cathleen Henning,