Panic Anxiety Disorder

In panic Anxiety disorder, repeated panic attacks occur unpredictably and often without obvious causes. The attacks consist of severe Anxiety with physical and psychological symptoms. Physical symptoms can include any of the general symptoms of Anxiety and often the hyperventilation syndrome.

Psychological symptoms of panic disorder include dread, having a seizure, losing control or going mad. To the sufferer, the attacks fell as if they are going on for a long time, but actually they tend to last only a few minutes and at their longest they last around an hour.

Panic disorder is common in depression, GAD or agoraphobia. General anxiety and panic disorder occurs 4 or more times as commonly in first-degree relatives of affected patients, suggesting a genetic influence.

How common is panic disorder?

Panic disorder typically strikes in young adulthood. Roughly half of all people who have panic disorder develop the condition before age 24.

About 1.7 percent of the adult U.S. population ages 18 to 54-approximately 2.4 million Americans-has panic disorder in a given year.

Women are twice as likely as men to develop panic disorder.

Panic Anxiety Disorder Treatment and Prevention

If the patient is experiencing an acute panic attack, stay with the patient until the attack subsides. If left alone, she may become even more anxious. Maintain a calm, serene approach. Statements such as, "I won't let anything here hurt you," and, ''I'll stay with you," can assure the patient that you're in control of the immediate situation. Avoid giving her insincere expressions of reassurance.

The patient's perceptual field may be narrowed; excessive stimuli may cause her to feel overwhelmed. Dim or brighten lights as necessary. The combination of both counseling and medicine seems to be an effective treatment for panic disorder. The patient may be so overwhelmed that she can't follow lengthy or complicated instructions. Speak in short, simple sentences and slowly give one direction at a time. Avoid giving lengthy explanations and asking too many questions.

Allow the patient to pace around the room (if she isn't in danger of hurting herself or anyone else) to help expend energy. Show her how to take slow, deep breaths if she's hyperventilating. Avoid touching the patient until you've established rapport. Unless she trusts you, she may be too stimulated or frightened to find touch reassuring.

Panic Anxiety Disorder

How common is panic disorder?

Panic Anxiety Disorder Treatment and Prevention

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