The Facts About Panic Disorder

According to statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health, about 6 million Americans ages 18 and older suffer from this debilitating anxiety disorder. The condition usually appears in early adulthood (the average age for onset is 24). Panic disorder can lead to agoraphobia, a fear of being in public, because people with panic disorder never know when they will have an attack.

Panic disorder patients in studies have described panic attacks as violent and frightening. Attacks are marked by sudden onset of feelings of terror accompanied by physical symptoms which can include sweating, weakness, a rapid, pounding heartbeat, tingling or numbness in the hands and head, flushing, chills, trembling and shaking, nausea, chest pains, feelings of choking or smothering and severe shortness of breath.

Panic attacks and their physical symptoms can be so bad that those experiencing them believe they are having a heart attack or that they are losing their minds. Because attacks are so random, people suffering from panic disorder may sink into depression because they are so in fear of and dreading the next one.

Causes and statistics

Each case of panic disorder is different, and no one thing has been found to trigger attacks. They can even come on during sleep, and the most severe symptoms usually come on within 10 minutes of the start of the attack (symptoms may last much longer, however).

Panic disorder is twice as common in women as in men. Extensive studies have been done, and it is thought that although the condition is not well understood, it seems to develop based on a combination of biological and environmental factors. For instance, panic disorder has been shown to run in families; it seemingly can be inherited just as eye or hair color are. It has also been linked to brain abnormalities, substance abuse and major stress (such as the death of a loved one).

It is important for people who think they may be suffering from panic disorder to seek treatment, because left unchecked the disease can be very debilitating. Those who have repeated attacks may begin avoiding everyday activities such as driving.

Diagnosis

Panic disorder is tricky to diagnose. A patient who experiences repeated attacks may visit the emergency room or their physician repeatedly and go through batteries of physical tests before the disease is properly diagnosed.

If a physician suspects panic disorder, he or she will usually take a complete medical history and perform a standard physical examination. Once physical illnesses are ruled out, the next step is typically a referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist. These mental health professionals use interviews and other specialized assessment tools to evaluate patients suspected of suffering from panic disorder.

An official diagnosis of panic disorder is based on a number of factors, including the duration and severity of symptoms, the frequency of attacks and the doctor's observation of the patient's behavior.

Treatment

A combination of things is often used to treat panic disorder. One is psychotherapy, a kind of counseling used to address the emotions associated with mental illness. This is often paired with cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps the panic disorder patient identify thought patterns and behaviors that lead up to feelings of panic and recognize potential attack triggers.

Physicians may also educate patients in breathing techniques and positive visualization to help with relaxation during panic attacks.

Several medications are also used in the treatment of panic disorder. Two of the most commonly used anti-depressants are Paxil and Zoloft; these are sometimes prescribed in tandem with an anti-anxiety drug such as Xanax or Klonopin. In addition, beta blockers or other heart medications may be prescribed for those patients who consistently experience irregular heartbeats.

Even if a treatment initially works and a patient stops having panic attacks, the disorder can reappear at any time, and additional treatment may be necessary.