Adult panic anxiety syndrome is psychiatric disorder and a type of panic disorder. Adult panic anxiety syndrome is characterized by recurring unpredictable episodes of a crippling sense of terror and apprehension called panic attacks. Short-term mild to moderate fear or anxiety is a normal reaction to stressors in daily life and can help people to recognize and more effectively deal with everyday stressful situations, such as starting a new job or passing an exam. However, people with adult panic anxiety syndrome experience extreme anxiety without any stressful stimulus.
Adult panic anxiety syndrome also often produce physical symptoms, including an elevation in heart rate, increased alertness, palpitations, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Adult panic anxiety syndrome can seriously affect a person's ability to function effectively in daily life. For more information on symptoms and complications, refer to symptoms of adult panic anxiety syndrome.
Making a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder begins with taking a thorough medical and psychiatric history, including symptoms, and completing a complete physical examination and a mental health exam. Tests are performed that can detect diseases and conditions that can coexist with or worsened symptoms of adult panic anxiety syndrome. These include hyperthyroidism, hypoxia, and hypertension. A referral to a psychiatrist or other licensed mental health provider is generally made to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of adult panic anxiety syndrome.
It is possible that a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder can be missed or delayed because some symptoms can be associated with other conditions or because of the stigma associated with mental illness. For more information on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis of adult panic anxiety syndrome.
Treatment of adult panic anxiety syndrome varies depending on the severity of the disorder, and a person's medical history, age, and general health. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of adult panic anxiety syndrome. ...more »
Adult Panic-Anxiety Syndrome: A psychiatric disorder involving anxiety and panic attacks that occur for no obvious reason. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Adult Panic-Anxiety Syndrome is available below.
The symptoms of adult panic anxiety syndrome are due to the body's reaction to stress called the fright, fight or flight response. This reaction developed in early human evolution as a means to increase alertness and readiness to react to dangerous stressors, such as the threat of a man-eating predator. When confronted with a stressor, the body's nervous system reacts by ...more symptoms »
The first step to addressing adult panic anxiety syndrome is to diagnose and treat any possible underlying medical conditions, such as hyperthyroidism and hypoxia, which can worsen or trigger symptoms or mimic adult panic anxiety syndrome.
Adult panic anxiety syndrome can often be successfully treated with a multifaceted plan that includes ...more treatments »
A diagnosis of adult panic anxiety syndrome may be missed or delayed for a variety of reasons. For example, people with an adult panic anxiety syndrome may fear the stigma of or be embarrassed by mental illness and not seek treatment. People with chronic hypoxia (a low amount of oxygen in the body) due to COPD may become confused and unaware that ...more misdiagnosis »
See full list of 18 symptoms of Adult Panic-Anxiety Syndrome
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Read more about Misdiagnosis and Adult Panic-Anxiety Syndrome
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