Panic disorder causes episodes of irrational fear and panic called "panic attacks". In addition to the mental symptoms of fear, panic, and terror, these attacks often lead to physical symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, rapid pulse, and various other symptoms. These symptoms can be so severe that many first-time sufferers believe they are having a heart attack or are dying, and go to a hospital emergency room for diagnosis. A single panic attack does not necessarily mean a diagnosis of panic disorder, but multiple episodes usually does. Once an attack can occur, people can get into a vicious cycle of so-called "anticipatory anxiety", where the fear of having an attack leads to increased anxiety. In some cases, people start to avoid places or events that trigger an attack, leading to phobias or agoraphobia. ...more »
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Prognosis for Panic disorder: fact, proper treatment reduces or completely prevents panic attacks in 70 to 90 percent of people. Many people feel substantial relief in just weeks or months. (Source: excerpt from Getting Treatment for Panic Disorder: NIMH)
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Panic disorder is very different from everyday anxiety. More than 3 million American adults have, or will have, panic disorder at some time in their lives. Most frequently, it starts in young adulthood. Usually, it does not go away by itself. But with proper treatment, people with panic disorder can be helped. (Source: excerpt from Getting Treatment for Panic Disorder: NIMH)
In panic disorder, brief episodes of intense fear are accompanied by multiple physical symptoms (such as heart palpitations and dizziness) that occur repeatedly and unexpectedly in the absence of any external threat. These "panic attacks," which are the hallmark of panic disorder, are believed to occur when the brain's normal mechanism for reacting to a threat – the so-called "fight or flight" response – becomes inappropriately aroused. Most people with panic disorder also feel anxious about the possibility of having another panic attack and avoid situations in which they believe these attacks are likely to occur. Anxiety about another attack, and the avoidance it causes, can lead to disability in panic disorder. (Source: excerpt from Understanding Panic Disorder: NIMH)
Specific psychological phenomenon characterized by sudden onset of anxiety (often unrelated to objective events), accompanied by autonomic symptoms such as tachycardia, paresthesia, flushing, and sweating. - (Source - Diseases Database)
An anxiety disorder characterized by unpredictable panic attacks; the attacks are usually severe but brief - (Source - WordNet 2.1)
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