Panic Disorder Definition, Causes, and Treatment

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Table of Contents

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Causes

Types

Treatment

Coping

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Fear and anxiety can be normal reactions to specific situations and stressful events. Panic disorder differs from this normalfearandanxietybecause it is often extreme, and may seem to strike out of the blue.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that approximately 2.7% of the adult U.S. population experiences panic disorder each year. Approximately 44.8% of these individuals experience cases of panic disorder that are classified as “severe.”

How to Help Someone Having a Panic Attack

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of American, nearly six million American adults experience the symptoms of panic disorder during any given year. While panic disorder can strike at any point in life, symptoms most often begin during late adolescence or early adulthood and affect twice as many women as men.

Many people living with panic disorder describe feeling as though they are having a heart attack or on the verge of dying, and experience some or all of the following symptoms:

Panic disorder can lead to serious disruptions in daily functioning and make it difficult to cope with normal, everyday situations that may trigger feelings of intense panic and anxiety.

The Symptoms of Panic Disorder

Your healthcare provider will also need to rule out other potential causes of your symptoms, including:

DSM-5 Criteria for Diagnosing Panic Disorder

Avoidance Behaviors and Panic Disorder

Because panic disorder often leads to a person avoiding certain situations or objects, it can also lead to the development ofphobias. For example, a person living with panic disorder might stop leaving home in order to prevent having an attack or losing control in public.

In time, this person might developagoraphobia, a marked fear of being in a variety of situations outside of the home in which escape might be difficult or help might not be available if debilitating symptoms develop.

While previous versions of the DSM categorized panic disorder as occurring with or without agoraphobia, the newest edition of the diagnostic manual lists the two as distinct and separate disorders.

Can You Die From a Panic Attack?

Although the exact causes of panic disorder are not clearly understood, many mental health experts believe that a combination of environmental, biological, and psychological factors play a role:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Causes and Risk Factors

Types of Panic Attacks

There are two main types of panic attacks: unexpected and expected. People with panic disorder most commonly experience unexpected panic attacks, but some do experience both types.

An Overview of the Types of Panic Attacks

Panic disorder, like other anxiety disorders, is often treated with psychotherapy, medication (antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs), or a combination of both.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy for panic disordercan include several different approaches, including:

Medication

Medications for panic disorderfall into one of two categories: antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants used for panic disorder, including:

Benzodiazepinesare a commonly prescribed class of anti-anxiety medication that can help reduce the severity of panic attacks acutely, including:

Top Treatments for Panic Disorder

In addition to medication and psychotherapy, there are some lifestyle habits that have been found to help people better cope with the symptoms of panic disorder.

Get Moving

Not only can regular exercise help reduce stress, anxiety, and tightness throughout the body, but it’s been found to lessen the frequency of panic attacks as well.

Prioritize Sleep

Sleep disturbances and panic disorder can be a vicious cycle. People with panic disorder often have trouble sleeping and the resulting sleep deprivation can result in greater panic disorder symptoms.

In addition to doing your best to practice good sleep hygiene, it’s important to tell your health care provider if you believe you have developed a sleep disturbance and/or are experiencing more frequent panic attacks.

Watch Your Diet

While there’s no magic diet to cure your panic disorder, there are certain foods and substances that might increase your anxiety or trigger a panic attack, including:

Keep a Journal

In addition to tracking your triggers, apanic attack journalcan be used to record your symptoms (physical and emotional) as well as any coping strategies that helped you cope with those symptoms.

Practice Relaxation

Relaxation techniques can help you slow down your thoughts, ease stress and anxiety, and counteract many of the cognitive and physical symptoms of panic disorder. Here are a few relaxation techniques you can try on your own or with the help of a mental health professional:

Seek Help

For many people,the stigmaassociated with panic disorder can prevent them from seeking support and treatment. However, getting a proper diagnosis and treatment and having a solid support system of friends and family can help you manage your symptoms and feel your best.

If your loved one has a panic disorder, do your best to remain supportive and encourage them to seek treatment, whether psychotherapy, medication, self-help, or a combination of these options.

If you or a loved one are struggling with panic disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with panic disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

4 Strategies for Getting Through a Panic Attack

11 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Panic Disorder Symptoms.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic Disorder.Telman LGE, van Steensel FJA, Maric M, Bögels SM.What are the odds of anxiety disorders running in families? A family study of anxiety disorders in mothers, fathers, and siblings of children with anxiety disorders.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;27(5):615-624. doi:10.1007/s00787-017-1076-xNational Institutes of Health.Understanding Anxiety Disorders: When Panic, Fear, and Worries Overwhelm.Milrod B, Chambless DL, Gallop R, et al.Psychotherapies for panic disorder: A tale of two sites.J Clin Psychiatry. 2016;77(7):927-935. doi:10.4088/jcp.14m095pQuagliato LA, Cosci F, Shader RI, et al.Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and benzodiazepines in panic disorder: A meta-analysis of common side effects in acute treatment.J Psychopharmacol. 2019;33(11):1340-1351. doi:10.1177/0269881119859372Lattari E, Budde H, Paes F, et al.Effects of aerobic exercise on anxiety symptoms and cortical activity in patients with panic disorder: A pilot study.Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2018;14:11-25. doi:10.2174/1745017901814010011Anwar Y.Tired and apprehensive: Anxiety amplifies the impact of sleep loss on aversive brain anticipation.The Journal of Neuroscience.2013;33(26):10607-10615.doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5578-12.2013Hofmann SG, Sawyer AT, Witt AA, Oh D.The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review.J Consult Clin Psychol. 2010;78(2):169-83. doi:10.1037/a0018555Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics.Kessler R, Chiu W, Demler O, Walters E.Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R).Archives of General Psychiatry.2005; 62(6):617–627.

11 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Panic Disorder Symptoms.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic Disorder.Telman LGE, van Steensel FJA, Maric M, Bögels SM.What are the odds of anxiety disorders running in families? A family study of anxiety disorders in mothers, fathers, and siblings of children with anxiety disorders.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;27(5):615-624. doi:10.1007/s00787-017-1076-xNational Institutes of Health.Understanding Anxiety Disorders: When Panic, Fear, and Worries Overwhelm.Milrod B, Chambless DL, Gallop R, et al.Psychotherapies for panic disorder: A tale of two sites.J Clin Psychiatry. 2016;77(7):927-935. doi:10.4088/jcp.14m095pQuagliato LA, Cosci F, Shader RI, et al.Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and benzodiazepines in panic disorder: A meta-analysis of common side effects in acute treatment.J Psychopharmacol. 2019;33(11):1340-1351. doi:10.1177/0269881119859372Lattari E, Budde H, Paes F, et al.Effects of aerobic exercise on anxiety symptoms and cortical activity in patients with panic disorder: A pilot study.Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2018;14:11-25. doi:10.2174/1745017901814010011Anwar Y.Tired and apprehensive: Anxiety amplifies the impact of sleep loss on aversive brain anticipation.The Journal of Neuroscience.2013;33(26):10607-10615.doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5578-12.2013Hofmann SG, Sawyer AT, Witt AA, Oh D.The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review.J Consult Clin Psychol. 2010;78(2):169-83. doi:10.1037/a0018555Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics.Kessler R, Chiu W, Demler O, Walters E.Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R).Archives of General Psychiatry.2005; 62(6):617–627.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Panic Disorder Symptoms.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic Disorder.Telman LGE, van Steensel FJA, Maric M, Bögels SM.What are the odds of anxiety disorders running in families? A family study of anxiety disorders in mothers, fathers, and siblings of children with anxiety disorders.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;27(5):615-624. doi:10.1007/s00787-017-1076-xNational Institutes of Health.Understanding Anxiety Disorders: When Panic, Fear, and Worries Overwhelm.Milrod B, Chambless DL, Gallop R, et al.Psychotherapies for panic disorder: A tale of two sites.J Clin Psychiatry. 2016;77(7):927-935. doi:10.4088/jcp.14m095pQuagliato LA, Cosci F, Shader RI, et al.Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and benzodiazepines in panic disorder: A meta-analysis of common side effects in acute treatment.J Psychopharmacol. 2019;33(11):1340-1351. doi:10.1177/0269881119859372Lattari E, Budde H, Paes F, et al.Effects of aerobic exercise on anxiety symptoms and cortical activity in patients with panic disorder: A pilot study.Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2018;14:11-25. doi:10.2174/1745017901814010011Anwar Y.Tired and apprehensive: Anxiety amplifies the impact of sleep loss on aversive brain anticipation.The Journal of Neuroscience.2013;33(26):10607-10615.doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5578-12.2013Hofmann SG, Sawyer AT, Witt AA, Oh D.The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review.J Consult Clin Psychol. 2010;78(2):169-83. doi:10.1037/a0018555

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Panic Disorder Symptoms.

National Institute of Mental Health.Panic Disorder.

Telman LGE, van Steensel FJA, Maric M, Bögels SM.What are the odds of anxiety disorders running in families? A family study of anxiety disorders in mothers, fathers, and siblings of children with anxiety disorders.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;27(5):615-624. doi:10.1007/s00787-017-1076-x

National Institutes of Health.Understanding Anxiety Disorders: When Panic, Fear, and Worries Overwhelm.

Milrod B, Chambless DL, Gallop R, et al.Psychotherapies for panic disorder: A tale of two sites.J Clin Psychiatry. 2016;77(7):927-935. doi:10.4088/jcp.14m095p

Quagliato LA, Cosci F, Shader RI, et al.Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and benzodiazepines in panic disorder: A meta-analysis of common side effects in acute treatment.J Psychopharmacol. 2019;33(11):1340-1351. doi:10.1177/0269881119859372

Lattari E, Budde H, Paes F, et al.Effects of aerobic exercise on anxiety symptoms and cortical activity in patients with panic disorder: A pilot study.Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2018;14:11-25. doi:10.2174/1745017901814010011

Anwar Y.Tired and apprehensive: Anxiety amplifies the impact of sleep loss on aversive brain anticipation.The Journal of Neuroscience.2013;33(26):10607-10615.doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5578-12.2013

Hofmann SG, Sawyer AT, Witt AA, Oh D.The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review.J Consult Clin Psychol. 2010;78(2):169-83. doi:10.1037/a0018555

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington D.C.: 2013.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Facts & Statistics.Kessler R, Chiu W, Demler O, Walters E.Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R).Archives of General Psychiatry.2005; 62(6):617–627.

Kessler R, Chiu W, Demler O, Walters E.Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R).Archives of General Psychiatry.2005; 62(6):617–627.

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