Panic Disorder Maritza Contreras Psychology Period 5

Definition: Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder. when panic attacks occur repeatedly, without warning. These attacks can happen many times every day or every week. People with this disorder might worry about having these attacks throughout the day. It can interfere with work and personal life.

Second Definition: Panic disorder is also an anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable minutes-long episodes of intense dread in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, chocking, or other frightening sensations. 5/4/11

Associated Featres Some of the behaviors, feelings, and thoughts are the following: Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate Sweating Trembling or shaking Feeling or choking Chest pain or discomfort Nausea or abnormal distress

Feelings of dizziness, unsteadiness, lightheadedness, faintness Feelings of unreality (derealization) or a sensation of being detached from oneself (depersonalization) Fear of losing control or going crazy Fear of dying Sensations of tingling or numbness Chills or hot flushes 5/4/11

Associated Features DSM-IV-TR Criteria A) 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: (a) persistent concern about having additional attacks (b) worry about the implications of the attack or its consequences (e.g., losing control, having a heart attack, "going crazy") (c) a significant change in behavior related to the attacks

Associated Features B) 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). C) The Panic Attacks are not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as Social Phobia (e.g., occurring on exposure to feared social situations), Specific Phobia (e.g., on exposure to a specific phobic situation), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (e.g., on exposure to dirt in someone with an obsession about contamination), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (e.g., in response to stimuli associated with a severe stressor), or Separation Anxiety Disorder (e.g., in response to being away from home or close relatives). 5/4/11

Etiology -Causes of Panic Disorder People tend to have this disorder during periods of intense fear and physical discomfort. A person could also have panic attack depending on the person past experiences. (for example people remember a place where they had that certain situation).

Etilogy Lactate is a chemical in the blood that normally produces no psychological problems; in fact this it’s a production stimulated by aerobic exercise, such as running or swimming. According to lactate theory of panic disorder, they can feel their blood increasing without doing exercise. Norepinephrine is a type of neurotransmitter which that’s what happens to a person that is placed under stress or in a dangerous situation. Just like lactate theory individuals that have panic attack can feel this way even though there are not put under stress and dangerous situations.

Continuation of Etiology Anxiety sensitivity theory is when people with panic disorder tend to interpret cognitive and somatic manifestations of stress and anxiety in a catastrophic manner. Is basically people that have “hypersensitive” is like a part of their brain that is very sensitive which makes the individuals get thrown into panic state.

Prevalence This disorder is really common after the first panic attack. A fairly high percentage of Americans, as many as 15% have experienced one or more panic attacks. However the diagnosis of panic disorder is fairly uncommon, it estimates of lifetime prevalence rates ranging from 1.4 % to 2.9% both in the united states and in other countries around the world. Even though panic attack is relatively uncommon in general population; its very common on clinical settings. 10% of the people that are referred for mental consultation are diagnosed, but the percentage is more dramatic in general medical settings. Most cases of panic disorder develop in people whom are around their 20’s and in second small group of cases arising among the mid thirties. Although some children and adolescents experience symptoms of panic attack the disorder is relatively rare among these age groups.

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Treatment The following treatments for panic disorder are: Gamma Knife is one of the first invented treatment on 1968. This is a radio surgery, it contains 201 small cobalt sources of gamma rays that aim radiation to a common focal point for the treatment of various neuropsychiatric conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder. Benzodiazephines is one of the most important and the most recommend treatment because is the most effective for panic disorder. This medication bind to receptor sites of GABA neurons, which then become activated by stimulation, leading to the inhabitation of the brain involved in panic attacks.

Continuation of Treatment -Relaxation training is also one the treatments. This treatment uses behavioral technique, the client learn how to systematically alternate tensing and relaxing muscles all over their body, it usually starts from the forehead working downward to the feet. This helps them to relax their body and confronting a feared situation. -Panic control therapy (PCT) consist of cognitive restructuring, the development of awareness of bodily cues. This treatment shows an improvement at levels comparable of antanxiety medication. People that take this treatment remain panic attack symptoms free.

Prognosis The probable outcome of individuals that have panic disorder is most likely to affect you for a short time or it may continue for many years. People that take treatment for panic disorders improve in less than a year.

References DSM IV Panic Disorders Criteria. (n.d.). Dsm iv panic disorders criteria. Retrieved from http://www.biologicalunhappiness.com/DSMpanic.htm Dewan,N., Zieman,G. (Oct. 2010).Panic disorder. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/src/detail?sid=78b4b1ea-6005-4be5-a6f7-2eb36a4d2e40%40sessionmgr115&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9c3JjLWxpdmU%3d#db=hxh&AN=36257090 Halgin,R.P.,& Whitbourne, S.K. (2005).Abnormal psychology: clinical perspectives on psychological disorders. New York, NY:Mc Graw Hill. Myers,D.G.(2011).Myer's psychology for ap. New York, NY: Worth Publishers

Disscussion If you had someone or knew someone who had or has a panic disorder, what would you do in order to help them?