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Panic disorder
Classification and external resources
ICD-10 F41.0
ICD-9 300.01, 300.21
DiseasesDB 30913
MeSH D016584

Panic Disorder is the medical term for a psychiatric condition characterized by recurring panic attacks in combination with significant behavioral change or at least a month of ongoing worry about the implications or concern about having other attacks. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (most commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify Diseases The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision ( ICD -10) is a coding of diseases and signs symptoms abnormal findings The 2007 version of the ICD is available online at http//wwwwho The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (most commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify Diseases The following is a list of codes for International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. The Diseases Database is a free Website that provides information about the relationships between medical conditions Symptoms, and Medications. Medical Subject Headings ( MeSH) is a huge Controlled vocabulary (or metadata system for the purpose of indexing journal articles and books Psychiatry is a medical specialty which exists to study, prevent, and treat Mental disorders in Humans Psychiatric Panic attacks are sudden discrete periods of intense anxiety mounting Physiological arousal fear stomach problems and discomfort that are associated with a variety of (DSM-IV)

Contents

Symptoms

Panic Disorder sufferers usually have a series of intense episodes of extreme anxiety, known as panic attacks. Anxiety is a physiological and psychological state characterized by Cognitive, Somatic, Emotional and Behavioral components Panic attacks are sudden discrete periods of intense anxiety mounting Physiological arousal fear stomach problems and discomfort that are associated with a variety of These attacks typically last 10 minutes, but can be as short-lived as 1–5 minutes. However, attacks can wax and wane for a period of hours—one panic attack rolling into another. They may vary in intensity and specific symptoms of panic over the duration (i. e. rapid heartbeat, perspiration, dizziness, dyspnea, trembling, psychological experience of uncontrollable fear, etc. Diaphoresis is excessive sweating commonly associated with shock and other Medical emergency conditions Many different terms are often used to describe what is collectively known as dizziness. Dyspnea or dyspnoea (pronounced disp-nee-ah, IPA /dɪsp'niə/ from Latin dyspnoea, from Greek dyspnoia from Tremor is an unintentional somewhat rhythmic muscle movement involving to-and-from movements (oscillations of one or more parts of the body Fear is an Emotional response to Threats and Danger. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific Stimulus, such as ). Some individuals deal with these events on a regular basis—sometimes daily or weekly. The outward symptoms of a panic attack often cause negative social experiences (i. e. embarrassment, social stigma, social isolation, etc. ). However, experienced sufferers can often have intense panic attacks with very little outward manifestations of the attack occurring. As many as 36% of all individuals with Panic Disorder also have agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is an Anxiety disorder, often precipitated by the fear of having a Panic attack in a setting from which there is no easy means of escape

Limited symptom attacks are similar to panic attacks, but have fewer symptoms. A Limited Symptom Attack (LSA, also referred to as a Limited Symptom Panic Attack (LPA, is a milder less comprehensive Panic attack with fewer than 4 Panic Most people with PD experience both panic attacks and limited symptom attacks.

Occurrence

Panic Disorder is a serious health problem but can be successfully treated. It is estimated that up to 1. 7 percent of the adult American population has Panic Disorder at some point in their lives. It typically strikes in early adulthood; roughly half of all people who have Panic Disorder develop the condition before age 24, especially if the person has been subjected to a traumatic experience. For the 2008 British film by Noel Clarke see Adulthood (film. However, some sources say that the majority of young people affected for the first time are between the ages of 25 and 30. Women are twice as likely as men to develop Panic Disorder. [1]

Panic Disorder can continue for months or even years, depending on how and when treatment is sought. If left untreated, it may worsen to the point where the person's life is seriously affected by panic attacks and by attempts to avoid or conceal the condition. In fact, many people have had problems with friends and family or employment while struggling to cope with Panic Disorder. An interpersonal relationship is a relatively long-term association between two or more people Family denotes a group of People affiliated by consanguinity affinity or co-residence Employment is a Contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. Some people with Panic Disorder may begin to lie to conceal their condition. In some individuals symptoms may occur frequently for a period of months or years, then many years may pass symptom-free. In others, the symptoms persist at the same level indefinitely. There is also some evidence that many individuals (especially those who develop symptoms at an early age) may experience a cessation of symptoms naturally later in life (i. e. past age 50).

Substance Abuse and Panic Disorder

A growing body of evidence exists that shows a link between substance abuse and panic disorder. Substance abuse is the overindulgence in and dependence of a Drug or other chemical leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual's physical and mental health Several studies have found that cigarette smoking increases the risk of panic attacks and Panic Disorder in young people. Tobacco Smoking is the inhalation of smoke from burned dried or cured leaves of the Tobacco plant most often in the form of a Cigarette. Panic attacks are sudden discrete periods of intense anxiety mounting Physiological arousal fear stomach problems and discomfort that are associated with a variety of [2][3] While the mechanism of how smoking increases panic attacks is not fully understood, a few hypotheses have been derived. Smoking cigarettes may lead to panic attacks by causing changes in respiratory function (e. In living organisms a respiratory system functions to allow Gas exchange. g. feeling short of breath). These respiratory changes in turn can lead to the formation of panic attacks, as respiratory symptoms are a prominent feature of panic. [4][5] Respiratory abnormalities have been found in children with high levels of anxiety, which suggests that a person with these difficulties may be susceptible to panic attacks, and thus more likely to subsequently develop Panic Disorder. Anxiety is a physiological and psychological state characterized by Cognitive, Somatic, Emotional and Behavioral components Nicotine is also a stimulant which could contribute to panic attacks. Nicotine is an Alkaloid found in the Nightshade family of plants ( Solanaceae) which constitutes approximately 0 Stimulant drugs are Drugs that temporarily increase alertness and awareness [6][7]

Deacon and Valentiner (2000)[8] conducted a study that examined co-morbid panic attacks and substance use in a non-clinical sample of young-adults who experienced regular panic attacks. The authors found that compared to healthy controls, therapeutic alcohol and sedative use was greater for non-clinical participants who experienced panic attacks. In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon A sedative, or more specifically a sedative-hypnotic, is a substance that depresses the Central nervous system (CNS resulting in calmness relaxation sleepiness These findings are consistent with the suggestion made by Cox, Norton, Dorward, and Fergusson (1989)[9] that Panic Disorder patients self-medicate if they believe that certain substances will be successful in alleviating their symptoms. If Panic Disorder patients are indeed self-medicating, there may be a portion of the population with undiagnosed Panic Disorder who will not seek professional help as a result of their own self-medication. In fact for some patients, Panic Disorder is only diagnosed after they seek treatment for their self-medication habit. Self-medication is the use of drugs, sometimes illicit to treat a perceived or real malady often of a psychological nature [10]

Panic Disorder in Children

A retrospective study has shown that 40% of adult Panic Disorder patients reported that their disorder began before the age of 20. [11] In an article examining the phenomenon of Panic Disorder in youth, Diler et al. (2004)[12] found that only a few past studies have examined the occurrence of juvenile Panic Disorder. They report that these studies have found that the symptoms of juvenile Panic Disorder almost replicate those found in adults – e. g. heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, hot flashes, nausea, abdominal distress, and chills. A palpitation (medical term ectopic heart beat) is an abnormal awareness of the beating of the Heart, whether it is too slow too fast irregular Tremor is an unintentional somewhat rhythmic muscle movement involving to-and-from movements (oscillations of one or more parts of the body Hot flashes (also known as hot flushes or night sweats if they happen at night are a symptom of the changing Hormone levels that are considered to be Nausea ( Latin: Nausea, Greek:, " Sea-sickness " also called wamble) is the sensation of unease and discomfort Rigor is a shaking occurring during a high Fever. It occurs because cytokines and Prostaglandins are released as part of an Immune [13][14][15][16][17] The anxiety disorders co-exist with staggeringly high numbers of other mental disorders in adults. Anxiety disorder is a blanket term covering several different forms of abnormal pathological anxieties Fears and Phobias In clinical usage "fear" [18] The same comorbid disorders that are seen in adults are also reported in children with juvenile Panic Disorder. Last and Strauss (1989)[19] examined a sample of 17 adolescents with Panic Disorder and found high rates of comorbid anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, and conduct disorders. Major depressive disorder, also known as major depression, unipolar depression, unipolar disorder, clinical depression, or simply depression Conduct disorder is a psychiatric category to describe a pattern of repetitive behavior where the rights of others or the current Social norms are violated Eassau et al. (1999)[20] also found a high number of comorbid disorders in a community-based sample of adolescents with panic attacks or juvenile Panic Disorder. Within the sample, adolescents were found to have the following comorbid disorders: Major Depressive Disorder (80%), Dysthymic Disorder (40%), Generalized anxiety disorder (40%), Somatoform Disorders (40%), substance abuse (40%), and specific phobia (20%). Major depressive disorder, also known as major depression, unipolar depression, unipolar disorder, clinical depression, or simply depression Dysthymia (pronounced /dɪsˈθaɪmiə/ is a Mood disorder that falls within the depression spectrum. Generalized anxiety disorder ( GAD) is an Anxiety disorder that is characterized by excessive uncontrollable and often irrational worry about everyday things that Somatoform disorder (also known as Briquet's syndrome) is characterized by physical symptoms that mimic disease or injury for which there is no identifiable physical cause or Substance abuse is the overindulgence in and dependence of a Drug or other chemical leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual's physical and mental health A specific phobia is a generic term for any kind of Anxiety disorder that amounts to an unreasonable or irrational fear related to exposure to specific objects or situations Consistent with this previous work, Diler et al. (2004) found similar results in their study in which 42 youths with juvenile Panic Disorder were examined. Compared to non-panic anxiety disordered youths, children with Panic Disorder had higher rates of comorbid Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder.

Despite the evidence pointing to the existence of early onset Panic Disorder, the DSM-IV-TR currently only recognizes six anxiety disorders in children: Separation Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, specific phobia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder (a. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders' ( DSM) is published by the American Psychiatric Association Separation anxiety is a psychological condition in which an individual has excessive Anxiety regarding separation from home or from people to whom the individual has A specific phobia is a generic term for any kind of Anxiety disorder that amounts to an unreasonable or irrational fear related to exposure to specific objects or situations Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD is a Chronic Anxiety disorder most commonly characterized by obsessive Distressing Intrusive thoughts Social phobia (DSM-IV 30023 also known as social anxiety disorder (DSM-IV 300 k. a. social phobia), and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Post traumatic stress disorder It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to Panic Disorder is notably excluded from this list.

It is also well documented that a person who experiences panic attacks during childhood increases the likelihood of experiencing other anxiety disorders and major depression later in life. Major depressive disorder, also known as major depression, unipolar depression, unipolar disorder, clinical depression, or simply depression [21][22][23]. Age of onset also appears to impact the occurrence of comorbid disorders. [24] In a study examining children of Panic Disorder patients, Goodwin et al. (2001) found that an early onset of Panic Disorder is associated with increased co-morbid occurrences of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Separation Anxiety Disorder. In a study conducted by Biederman, Rosenbaum, Bolduc, and Faraone (1991)[25], the authors found that parental Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia increased the risk of their children developing an anxiety disorder later in life. Agoraphobia is an Anxiety disorder, often precipitated by the fear of having a Panic attack in a setting from which there is no easy means of escape Interestingly, while parental Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia increased the risk of Major Depressive Disorder developing in their offspring, parental depression alone did not increase the risk of their children developing other anxiety disorders. This finding is further supported with later work done by Biederman et al. (2006)[26] in a 5-year longitudinal follow-up study. The authors suggest that the high prevalence of several anxiety disorders in children of Panic Disorder patients provides evidence for a general “anxiety proneness” that may be transmitted from parent to offspring. It was also found that Separation Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobia and Generalized Anxiety Disorder were the most common anxiety disorders found in the children of parents with Panic Disorder, which is consistent with the findings of Lipsitz, Martin, Mannuzza, and Chapman (1994)[27], who suggested that Separation Anxiety Disorder may be a specific precursor to the development of Panic Disorder later in life. The results of Beiderman et al. (2006) show a pattern in the development of Panic Disorder in which a string of precursor disorders emerge, starting with Separation Anxiety Disorder that eventually progresses to Panic Disorder. For the children in the study, the median age for the first anxiety disorder was 4 years of age. It is clear that not only does Panic Disorder appear to occur in children, but the consequences of early onset Panic Disorder can extend beyond the disorder itself.

Treatment

Panic Disorder is real and potentially disabling, but it can be controlled and successfully treated. Because of the intense symptoms that accompany Panic Disorder, it may be mistaken for a life-threatening physical illness. Illness (sometimes referred to as ill-health or ail) can be defined as a state of poor Health. This misconception often aggravates or triggers future attacks. People frequently go to hospital emergency rooms when they are having panic attacks, and extensive medical tests may be performed to rule out these other conditions, thus creating further anxiety.

The current treatment suggested by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Medical Association is a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication. The American Psychiatric Association (APA is the main Professional organization of Psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists in the United States, and the The American Medical Association (AMA founded in 1847 and incorporated 1897 is the largest association of Physicians and Medical students in the United States See also Cognitive Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ( CBT) is an umbrella-term for psychotherapeutic systems that deal with cognitions interpretations Medication, also referred to as medicine, can be loosely defined as any substance intended for use in the diagnosis cure mitigation treatment or prevention of disease In some cases, medication is not absolutely required to treat Panic Disorder effectively. Mental health professionals that typically can assist an individual in treatment of panic disorder are psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, and social workers. A mental health professional is a person who offers services for the purpose of improving an individual's Mental health or to treat Mental illness. Mental health professional A psychologist is a practitioner of Psychology, the systematic investigation of the mind including Behavior, Cognition, A psychiatrist (also archaically called an alienist) is a Physician who specializes in Psychiatry and is certified in treating Mental disorders Mental health counselors (in this article MHCs) practice Mental health counseling which is a dynamic Psychoeducational discipline born in the late 1970’s Social work is a discipline involving the application of Social theory and research methods to study and improve the lives of people groups and societies Psychotherapy is typically provided by a clinical or counseling psychologist, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC is a Licensure for Mental health professionals The exact title varies by state but the other most frequently used title This list is of professional and academic credentials in the field of Psychology and allied fields including Psychotherapy, Counseling and Social work. To pursue a medical treatment for Panic Disorder, one should visit a medical doctor, typically a psychiatrist. In remote areas, or when a psychiatrist is unavailable, a general practice physician ("family doctor") may be competent to manage the pharmacological ("medications") treatment in coordination with a psychologist or LCSW. A general practitioner, or GP is a medical practitioner who provides Primary care and specializes in Family medicine. Pharmacology (from Greek grc φάρμακον pharmakon, "drug" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study of how Drugs Mental health professional A psychologist is a practitioner of Psychology, the systematic investigation of the mind including Behavior, Cognition, A psychiatrist is, by training, better prepared than a general practice physician in pharmacological treatment and should be sought out if available. A psychiatrist (also archaically called an alienist) is a Physician who specializes in Psychiatry and is certified in treating Mental disorders A psychologist is not a medical doctor and cannot prescribe medication.

Medications can be used to break the psychological connection between a specific phobia and panic attacks. Phobias Phobias (in the clinical meaning of the term are the most common form of Anxiety disorders An American study by the National Institute of Mental Health . Medications can also be used to treat Panic Disorder. Medications can include:

A panel of over 50 peer-nominated internationally recognized experts in the pharmacotherapy of anxiety and depression judged benzodiazepines, especially combined with an antidepressant, as the mainstays of pharmacotherapy for anxiety disorders. [28][29][30][31]

Despite increasing focus on the use of antidepressants and other agents for the treatment of anxiety, benzodiazepines have remained a mainstay of anxiolytic pharmacotherapy due to their robust efficacy, rapid onset of therapeutic effect, and generally favorable side effect profile. [32] Treatment patterns for psychotropic drugs appear to have remained stable over the past decade, with benzodiazepines being the most commonly used medication for panic disorder. [33]

In the case of Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia, multiple exposures to the phobia trigger without a resulting panic attack (due to medication or relaxation training) can often break the phobia-panic pattern, allowing people to function around their phobia without the help of medications. Minor phobias can often be eliminated without medication through monitored cognitive-behavioral therapy or simply by exposure. See also Cognitive Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ( CBT) is an umbrella-term for psychotherapeutic systems that deal with cognitions interpretations

Usually, a combination of psychotherapy and medications produces good results. Some improvement may be noticed in a fairly short period of time—about 6 to 8 weeks. Often, it may take longer to find the right pair of medications and mental health professional. Thus appropriate treatment by an experienced professional can prevent panic attacks or at least substantially reduce their severity and frequency—bringing significant relief to 70 to 90 percent of people with Panic Disorder. [34] Relapses may occur, but they can often be effectively treated just like the initial episode.

In addition, people with Panic Disorder may need treatment for other emotional problems. Clinical depression has often been associated with Panic Disorder, as have alcoholism and drug addiction. Major depressive disorder, also known as major depression, unipolar depression, unipolar disorder, clinical depression, or simply depression Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions Drug addiction is widely considered a pathological state. The disorder of addiction involves the progression of acute Drug use to the development of drug-seeking Research has also suggested that suicide attempts are more frequent in people with panic disorder, although this research remains controversial. More extensive treatment is required for people with treatment-resistant Panic Disorder, which may not respond to many drug and behavior therapies.

Experimental treatment for Panic Disorder has included nutritional consultation and the use of substances such as inositol, amino acid gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, glutamine, and the calming amino acid L-theanine. Treatment with GABA is both questionable and controversial, as orally ingested GABA cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier (BBB is a metabolic or cellular structure in the Central nervous system (CNS that restricts the passage of various chemical substances and microscopic Orthomolecular therapy useful in the treatment of depression or which enhances the healthy functioning of the brain may have a role in the treatment of this condition. Orthomolecular psychiatry is a branch of Orthomolecular medicine, an Alternative medicine known for its claims that Dietary supplements and other unorthodox About 30% of people with panic disorder use alcohol and 17% use psychoactive drugs. [35] This is in comparison with 61% (alcohol)[1] and 7. 9% (other psychoactive drugs) [2] of the general population who use alcohol and psychoactive drugs, respectively. It often varies between individual cases whether any observed drug use worsens the condition, or is initiated by the sufferer to alleviate the condition ("self medication"). Self-medication is the use of drugs, sometimes illicit to treat a perceived or real malady often of a psychological nature Most stimulant drugs (caffeine, nicotine, cocaine) would be expected to worsen the condition, since they directly increase the symptoms of panic, such as heart rate. The medically established psychoactive properties of marijuana present a special case—at low doses there may be some anti-anxiety psychological effects comparable to those of benzodiazepines, whereas at some undefined threshold (as dose is increased), marijuana has been shown to produce extreme anxiety on its own, with an intensity potentially comparable to that of the Panic Disorder symptoms themselves. The benzodiazepines (pronounced, often abbreviated to "benzos") are a class of Psychoactive drugs with varying Hypnotic [3] However, generally only new marijuana users experience anxiety because they are not used to their heart rate temporarily being increased. [4]

As with many disorders, having a support structure of family and friends who understand the condition can help increase the rate of recovery. During an attack, it is not uncommon for the sufferer to develop irrational, immediate fear, which can often be dispelled by a supporter who is familiar with the condition. For more serious or active treatment, there are support groups for anxiety sufferers which can help people understand and deal with the disorder.

Other forms of treatment include journaling, in which a patient records their day-to-day activities and emotions in a log to find and deal with their personal stresses. For other uses of the term 'diary' see Diary (disambiguation. Breathing exercises, such as diaphragmatic breathing, can also be found helpful. Diaphragmatic breathing, abdominal breathing, belly breathing or deep breathing is the act of breathing deep into your lungs by flexing your diaphragm In some cases, a therapist may use a procedure called interoceptive exposure, in which the symptoms of a panic attack are induced in order to promote coping skills and show the patient that no harm can come from a panic attack. Stress-relieving activities such as tai-chi, yoga, and physical exercise can also help ameliorate the causes of Panic Disorder. Tai chi chuan (is an internal Chinese martial art often practiced for Health reasons Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the Many physicians will recommend stress management, time management, and emotion-balancing classes and seminars to help patients avoid anxiety in the future. Stress management encompasses techniques intended to equip a person with effective coping mechanisms for dealing with psychological stress, with stress defined as a person's Research has also shown that the herbal supplement 5-HTP can be used to treat panic disorders by its ability to boost serotonin levels. 5-Hydroxytryptophan or 5-HTP is a naturally-occurring Amino acid, a precursor to the Neurotransmitter Serotonin and an intermediate This works by providing the body with the raw material to make serotonin, as opposed to SSRIs which work by recycling serotonin.

Interoceptive Desensitization/Symptom Inductions

One particularly helpful and effective form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is Interoceptive Desensitization. See also Cognitive Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ( CBT) is an umbrella-term for psychotherapeutic systems that deal with cognitions interpretations Techniques used may include those based upon the concept that intentional exposure to the symptoms will help decrease the sufferer's fear of panic attacks. In a study by Barlow & Craske (1989), 87% of the individuals that participated in the two of four treatments that involved Interoceptive Desensitization were free of panic at the end of treatment and these results were maintained at a 2-year follow up.

In controlled studies of Interoceptive Desensitization treatments compared to other treatments, those treatments that included Interoceptive Desensitization were found to be significantly superior to other treatments such as muscle relaxation alone, or education or insight-oriented treatments. Indeed, Interoceptive Desensitization often leads to a dramatic reduction in the frequency and intensity of panic attacks and as such should be implemented immediately under the guidance of a mental health professional. A mental health professional is a person who offers services for the purpose of improving an individual's Mental health or to treat Mental illness. It is important the patient is given medical clearance and permission from a medical doctor before attempting these exercises. A physician, medical practitioner or medical doctor who practices Medicine, and is concerned with maintaining or restoring human Health

Symptom inductions generally occur for one minute and may include:

The key to the induction is that the exercises should mimic the most frightening symptoms of a panic attack. Light-headedness is a common and often unpleasant sensation of Dizziness and/or feeling that one may be about to faint, which may be transient recurrent or occasionally Derealization ( DR) is an alteration in the perception or experience of the external world so that it seems strange or unreal Many different terms are often used to describe what is collectively known as dizziness. Many different terms are often used to describe what is collectively known as dizziness. Orientation is a function of the Mind involving awareness of three dimensions Time, Place and Person. Dyspnea or dyspnoea (pronounced disp-nee-ah, IPA /dɪsp'niə/ from Latin dyspnoea, from Greek dyspnoia from Breathing takes Oxygen in and Carbon dioxide out of the body Aerobic Organisms require oxygen to create energy via respiration, in Measuring heart rate The Pulse rate (which in most people is identical to the heart rate can be measured at any point on the body where an Artery 's pulsation In living organisms a respiratory system functions to allow Gas exchange. Symptom Inductions should be repeated 3-5 times per day until the patient has little to no anxiety in relation to the symptoms that were induced. Often it will take a period of weeks for the afflicted to feel no anxiety in relation to the induced symptoms. With repeated trials, a person learns through experience that these internal sensations do not need to be feared—the individual becomes less sensitized or desensitized to the internal sensation. After repeated trials, when nothing catastrophic happens, the brain learns (Hippocampus & Amygdala) to not fear the sensations, and the sympathetic nervous system activation fades. The hippocampus is a part of the Forebrain, located in the medial Temporal lobe. The la amygdalae ( Latin, also la corpus amygdaloideum, singular la amygdala, from Greek el αμυγδαλή grc-Latn amygdalē, 'almond' The Sympathetic Nervous System ( SNS) is a branch of the Autonomic nervous system along with the Enteric nervous system and Parasympathetic nervous

Causes

Panic Disorder has been found to run in families, and this may mean that inheritance plays a strong role in determining who will get it. It has also been found to exist as a co-morbid condition with many hereditary disorders, such as bipolar disorder, and alcoholism. Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions However, many people who have no family history of the disorder develop it. Family denotes a group of People affiliated by consanguinity affinity or co-residence Malfunctioning of brain structures, such as the amygdala and hormonal/adrenaline glands, may cause an overproduction of certain chemicals and could be source of the physical symptoms.

Other biological factors, stressful life events, life transitions, environment, and thinking in a way that exaggerates relatively normal bodily reactions are also believed to play a role in the onset of panic disorder. Foundations of modern biology There are five unifying principles Often the first attacks are triggered by physical illnesses, major stress, or certain medications. Medication, also referred to as medicine, can be loosely defined as any substance intended for use in the diagnosis cure mitigation treatment or prevention of disease People who tend to take on excessive responsibilities may develop a tendency to suffer panic attacks. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients also show a much higher rate of Panic Disorder than the general population. Post traumatic stress disorder It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to The exact causes of Panic Disorder are unknown at this point.

There is some evidence to suggest hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, mitral valve prolapse, labyrinthitis and pheochromocytoma can cause or aggravate Panic Disorder. Hypoglycemia or hypoglycaemia is the medical term for a pathologic state produced by a lower than normal level of Glucose ( sugar) in the blood Hyperthyroidism is the term for overactive tissue within the Thyroid gland resulting in overproduction and thus an excess of circulating free thyroid hormones Thyroxine Mitral valve prolapse (MVP is a Valvular heart disease characterized by the displacement of an abnormally thickened Mitral valve leaflet into the left atrium Labyrinthitis is a Balance disorder. It is an inflammatory process affecting the labyrinths that house the Vestibular system (which sense changes in head A phaeochromocytoma ( pheochromocytoma in the US is a Neuroendocrine tumor of the medulla of the Adrenal glands (originating in the Chromaffin

Studies in animals and humans have focused on pinpointing the specific brain areas involved in Anxiety Disorders such as Panic Disorder. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus The brain is the center of the Nervous system in animals All Vertebrates and the majority of Invertebrates have a brain Anxiety disorder is a blanket term covering several different forms of abnormal pathological anxieties Fears and Phobias In clinical usage "fear" Fear, an emotion that evolved to deal with danger, causes an automatic, rapid protective response that occurs without the need for conscious thought. Fear is an Emotional response to Threats and Danger. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific Stimulus, such as Consciousness has been defined loosely as a constellation of attributes of Mind such as Subjectivity, Self-awareness, Sentience, and the Thought and thinking are mental forms and Processes respectively ("thought" is both This is termed the fight or flight response. The fight-or-flight response', also called the fright, fight or flight response, hyperarousal or the acute stress response, was first It has been found that the body's fear response is coordinated by a small but complicated structure deep inside the brain called the amygdala. The la amygdalae ( Latin, also la corpus amygdaloideum, singular la amygdala, from Greek el αμυγδαλή grc-Latn amygdalē, 'almond' Eating disorders have also been linked to have caused panic attacks in several people. An eating disorder is a compulsion to eat or avoid eating that negatively affects both one's physical and mental health Some mood disorders can cause Panic Disorder. In addition to clinical depression, bipolar disorder can cause Panic Disorder in some people. Major depressive disorder, also known as major depression, unipolar depression, unipolar disorder, clinical depression, or simply depression Due to the nature of the fight or flight response many cases of Panic Disorder may be linked with the limbic system and be initiated by those biological factors that could be biological, reinterpreted emotionally as a threat to survival, such as hypoxia (lack of oxygen). The fight-or-flight response', also called the fright, fight or flight response, hyperarousal or the acute stress response, was first The limbic system, or Paleomammalian brain is a term for a set of brain structures including the Hippocampus and Amygdala and anterior thalamic nuclei and a limbic Chronic Hypoxia is a pathological condition in which the body as a whole ( generalized hypoxia) or region of the body ( tissue hypoxia) is deprived of adequate If Panic Disorder is experienced more severely during sleep, it would be recommended to have the sufferer evaluated for conditions such as sleep apnea or hypopnea. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in Breathing during Sleep. A sleep-related panic disorder could be most easily distinguished from a night terror by the ability (usually instantaneous) of the Panic Disorder sufferer to regain full consciousness, unlike the night terror sufferer. A night terror, also known as pavor nocturnus, is a Parasomnia disorder characterized by extreme terror and a temporary inability to regain full consciousness

Prepulse inhibition has been found to be reduced in patients with Panic Disorder [5]. Prepulse Inhibition ( PPI) is a neurological phenomenon in which a weaker prestimulus ( prepulse) inhibits the reaction of an organism to a subsequent strong startling Disorders with PPI deficits are characterized by a loss of the normal ability to suppress or gate irrelevant sensory, motor or cognitive information. This loss of ‘gating’ may be experienced as intrusive thoughts or sensory information. Reduced PPI and gating functions may be a cause of the heightened state of sensory overload that patients suffering from panic attack often experience.

Stimulants are a rather common cause for panic attacks. Stimulant drugs are Drugs that temporarily increase alertness and awareness An excess of common stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine often can induce panic attacks in less experienced users. Caffeine is a bitter white crystalline Xanthine Alkaloid that acts as a Psychoactive Stimulant Drug and a mild Diuretic Nicotine is an Alkaloid found in the Nightshade family of plants ( Solanaceae) which constitutes approximately 0 Chemicals, including carbon monoxide, in tobacco smoke can also trigger panic attacks in certain people. Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO is a colorless odorless tasteless yet highly toxic Gas. Tobacco Smoking is the inhalation of smoke from burned dried or cured leaves of the Tobacco plant most often in the form of a Cigarette. Some people's response to small amounts of carbon monoxide is to panic. Not surprisingly, the attacks stop or get much less severe after they quit the cause, such as smoking.

Psychological explanations of Panic Disorder have also been put forward. Clark (1986) suggests that Panic Disorder is often caused by "catastrophic misinterpretations", whereby normal bodily sensations, often normal responses to anxiety such as palpitations and sweating, are interpreted as indicating something seriously wrong such as a heart-attack, and this interpretation can be done either consciously or subconsciously. Quite a bit of evidence exists for this theory. For example, activating catastrophic misinterpretations increases anxiety and panic; panic attacks can be reduced as a result of cognitively challenging these misinterpretations; with ambiguous events questionnaires, panic-disorder patients interpret ambiguous sensations more catastrophically than controls. Further, a study by Ehlers et al (1988) which provided false heart-rate feedback to participants found that those with panic disorder react with far greater anxiety.

DSM-IV criteria

DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for panic disorder with (or without) agoraphobia:

A. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders' ( DSM) is published by the American Psychiatric Association Both (1) and (2):
  1. recurrent unexpected panic attacks
  2. at least one of the attacks has been followed by 1 month (or more) of one (or more) of the following:
  • persistent concern about having additional attacks
  • worry about the implications of the attack or its consequences (e. Panic attacks are sudden discrete periods of intense anxiety mounting Physiological arousal fear stomach problems and discomfort that are associated with a variety of g. , losing control, having a heart attack, "going crazy")
  • significant change in behavior related to the attacks
B. The presence (or absence) of agoraphobia
C. The panic attacks are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e. g. , a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e. g. , hyperthyroidism).
D. The panic attacks are not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as social phobia (e. Social phobia (DSM-IV 30023 also known as social anxiety disorder (DSM-IV 300 g. , occurring on exposure to feared social situations), specific phobia (e. Phobias Phobias (in the clinical meaning of the term are the most common form of Anxiety disorders An American study by the National Institute of Mental Health g. , on exposure to a specific phobic situation), obsessive-compulsive disorder (e. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD is a Chronic Anxiety disorder most commonly characterized by obsessive Distressing Intrusive thoughts g. , on exposure to dirt in someone with an obsession about contamination), post-traumatic stress disorder (e. Post traumatic stress disorder It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to g. , in response to stimuli associated with a severe stressor), or separation anxiety disorder (e. Separation anxiety is a psychological condition in which an individual has excessive Anxiety regarding separation from home or from people to whom the individual has g. , in response to being away from home or close relatives).

References

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