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Panic Disorder
There are situations where it might be normal to feel anxiety or fear:
- The telephone ringing in the middle of the night
- Losing a child in a crowd
But for people with panic disorder, feelings of intense fear can occur "out of the blue," in places or situations that would not upset most people. For example:
- Stuck in traffic, a woman unexpectedly has the intense urge to flee, feeling that something terrible is about to happen
- Standing in line at the grocery store, a man suddenly has clammy palms, feels his heart pounding
- Sitting in a crowded movie theater, a woman feels sick to her stomach because she feels she may not be able to get out easily
As many as 3 to 7 million Americans will have panic disorder at some point in their lives. Panic disorder can happen to anyone. It typically begins between young adulthood and the mid-30s. Women are two to three times more likely than men to get panic disorder.
Research has shown an association between panic disorder and depression. Major depressive disorder occurs in 50% to 65% of people with panic disorder.
Panic disorder seems to run in families. Therefore, someone who has a close family member who is affected by panic disorder is more likely to develop it, too. However, studies show that most people with a close relative who has panic disorder will not develop it themselves.
Panic disorder is a medical condition that causes people to have repeated panic attacks — sudden periods of intense fear — that often come "out of the blue." Not every person who has a panic attack will go on to have panic disorder.
Signs and Symptoms of Panic Disorder
1. Panic attacks: Panic attacks are a basic part of panic disorder. These attacks are extremely common. Nearly 1 out of 14 people will experience at least one during his or her lifetime. Panic attacks generally include four (or more) of the following:
- Pounding heart or fast heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling of choking
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Nausea or stomach pain
- Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or faint
- Feeling detached from yourself or feeling that the situation is unreal
- Fear of losing control or "going crazy"
- Fear of dying
- Numbness or tingling feelings
- Chills or hot flashes
These signs and symptoms usually develop suddenly and are often at their worst within 10 minutes.
If you have had one or more attacks like those described above, see your doctor. Your doctor can make sure that your panic attacks are not due to other causes, such as another medical condition or the effects of a prescription or over-the-counter drug.
2. What follows attacks: For people with panic disorder, their panic attacks are followed by at least 1 month of one or more of the following:
- Constant worry about having another attack
- A change in behavior to avoid having another attack
- Constant worry about the effect of the attacks; for example, that they will lead to a heart attack or "nervous breakdown"
3. Agoraphobia: Panic disorder can occur with or without agoraphobia (pronounced "uh-gore-uh-fo-bee-uh"). Agoraphobia involves fear of certain places or situations, including:
- Being in crowds
- Riding in elevators
- Driving over bridges
- Being outside the home alone
- Using public transportation
People with agoraphobia and panic disorder try to avoid situations where escape might be impossible should a panic attack occur. If they confront such a situation, they often have a lot of anxiety and may need to have someone with them to help calm their fears. Not all people with agoraphobia have panic attacks. Likewise, not all people with panic disorder have agoraphobia.
The exact cause of panic disorder is not clear. Research has shown that it may be associated with a chemical imbalance in the brain.
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