Panic disorder

What it is

Panic attacks are discrete occurrences of intense fear. In panic disorder these are episodes of intense, short-lived attacks whose symptoms are cardiovascular, neurologic, or gastrointestinal.

How it presents

Each attack has an onset, a duration, a frequency and a precipitating factor, and the symptoms fall into three groups.

Somatic symptoms:

• Palpitation, shortness of breath, shaking and sweating.
• Chest pain, dizziness, feeling of choking, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
• Tingling sensation.

Psychological symptoms:

• Fear of losing control or going crazy.
• Fear of dying.
• Depersonalization or derealization.

Impact of the attacks:

• Persistent worries of having further attacks.
• Maladaptive behavior related to the attacks, such as avoidance.