Provided by the National Institute of Mental Health
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder
characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by
physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of
breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress. These sensations often mimic symptoms
of a heart attack or other life-threatening medical conditions. As a result, the
diagnosis of panic disorder is frequently not made until extensive and costly
medical procedures fail to provide a correct diagnosis or relief.
Many people with panic disorder develop intense anxiety between episodes. It is
not unusual for a person with panic disorder to develop phobias about places or
situations where panic attacks have occurred, such as in supermarkets or other
everyday situations. As the frequency of panic attacks increases, the person
often begins to avoid situations where they fear another attack may occur or
where help would not be immediately available. This avoidance may eventually
develop into agoraphobia, an inability to go beyond known and safe surroundings
because of intense fear and anxiety.
Facts About Panic Disorder
Approximately 2.4 million American adults ages 18 to 54, or about 1.7 percent of
people in this age group in a given year, have panic disorder.1
Panic disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood and is
twice as common in women as in men.2
Panic disorder may coexist with other disorders, most often depression and
substance abuse.3 Appropriate diagnosis and treatment of other disorders are
important to successfully treating panic disorder.
Fortunately, research—including studies supported by NIMH—has led to the
development of treatments to help people with panic disorder.
Treatments for Panic Disorder
Treatments for panic disorder include medications, commonly the selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and a type of psychotherapy known as
cognitive-behavioral therapy, which teaches people how to view panic attacks
differently and demonstrates ways to reduce anxiety.4 NIMH is conducting a
large-scale study to evaluate the effectiveness of combining these treatments.
Appropriate treatment by an experienced professional can reduce or prevent panic
attacks in 70 to 90 percent of people with panic disorder. Most patients show
significant progress after a few weeks of therapy. Relapses may occur, but they
can often be effectively treated just like the initial episode.
Research Findings
Heredity, other biological factors, stressful life events, and thinking in a way
that exaggerates relatively normal bodily reactions are all believed to play a
role in the onset of panic disorder.4 The exact cause or causes of panic
disorder are unknown and are the subject of intense scientific investigation.
Studies in animals and humans have focused on pinpointing the specific brain
areas and circuits involved in anxiety and fear, which underlie anxiety
disorders, such as panic disorder.5 Fear, an emotion that evolved to deal with
danger, causes an automatic, rapid protective response that occurs without the
need for conscious thought. It has been found that the body's fear response is
coordinated by a small structure deep inside the brain, called the amygdala.
The amygdala, although relatively small, is a very complicated structure, and
recent research suggests that anxiety disorders may be associated with abnormal
activation in the amygdala. One aim of research is to use such basic scientific
knowledge to develop new therapies.
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For More Information
Please visit the following link for more information about organizations that
focus on panic disorder.
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All material in this fact sheet is in the public domain and may be copied or
reproduced without permission from the Institute. Citation of the source is
appreciated.
NIH Publication No. 01-4596
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References
1 Narrow WE, Rae DS, Regier DA. NIMH epidemiology note: prevalence of anxiety
disorders. One-year prevalence best estimates calculated from ECA and NCS data.
Population estimates based on U.S. Census estimated residential population age
18 to 54 on July 1, 1998. Unpublished.
2 Robins LN, Regier DA, eds. Psychiatric disorders in America: the Epidemiologic
Catchment Area Study. New York: The Free Press, 1991.
3 Regier DA, Rae DS, Narrow WE, et al. Prevalence of anxiety disorders and their
comorbidity with mood and addictive disorders. British Journal of Psychiatry
Supplement, 1998; (34): 24-8.
4 Hyman SE, Rudorfer MV. Anxiety disorders. In: Dale DC, Federman DD, eds.
Scientific American® Medicine. Volume 3. New York: Healtheon/WebMD Corp., 2000,
Sect. 13, Subsect. VIII, p. 1.
5 LeDoux J. Fear and the brain: where have we been, and where are we going?
Biological Psychiatry, 1998; 44(12): 1229-38.
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