Overview

What it is: People with Panic Disorder experience repeated unexpected episodes of intense fear. These episodes, called panic attacks, occur without warning and in the absence of any external threats. Panic attacks can occur as often as several times a week or even per day, causing significant distress. People with panic disorder can develop an intense fear of having another attack and refuse to leave their homes (agoraphobia).

How it's diagnosed: Doctors use a set of guidelines to help determine whether you have panic disorder. They want to know if, one month after a panic attack, you have persistent concern about having another attack, you worry about the consequence or implications of panic attacks or you show significant behavioral change related to the attacks.

Doctors want to ensure the attacks do not result from substance abuse or a medical condition. They also want to make sure the attacks are not caused by a different anxiety disorder.

How it's treated: Treatment can involve taking medications, psychotherapy (talk therapy) or both. It is likely you will need ongoing treatment to prevent the symptoms of panic disorder from recurring.

There are many types of medications available to treat anxiety disorders, but the most commonly used are SSRIs such as Paxil, which have proven to be effective in the treatment of panic disorder. SSRIs work by helping to regulate the balance of a chemical called serotonin (a natural substance that acts as a "messenger" between nerve cells in the brain).

Some people find comfort just by learning panic disorder is a medical condition. Learning more about your condition is often a good first step toward feeling better.

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What Does It Feel Like?

Living with panic disorder is extremely difficult. Many sufferers live in constant fear they will have another attack. When they experience an attack, they might believe they are dying from a heart attack or suffering from a respiratory problem, neurological disorder or gastrointestinal condition. As a result, they make repeated visits to emergency rooms and doctors' offices.

Symptoms of a panic attack include palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, feeling like you're choking, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, tingling sensations, chills, blushing or hot flashes. These attacks happen suddenly and increase in intensity within 10 minutes or less. Many people say they get a fear of dying, "going crazy" or losing control of their emotions or behavior.

If you have panic disorder, you can become fearful of any situation in which you anticipate an attack could happen -- even ordinary situations like a trip to the grocery store. In many cases, you could begin to avoid these situations altogether and develop agoraphobia.

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How Common Is Panic Disorder?

In any given year, nearly 4 million people in the United States suffer from panic disorder. The condition is two to three times more common in women as in men, and it is more common in people with a family history of the disorder.

All too often, people with panic disorder have such extreme distress they rush to hospital emergency rooms or to other healthcare professionals.

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