Panic Disorder E’lexus Jackson Period 4

Conduct Disorder Panic Disorder- an anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable minutes- long episode of intense dread in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pains, choking, or other frightening sensations

Associated Feature The Symptoms Chest pains, dizziness, fear of losing control, feeling of choking, feeling of detachment, feelings of unreality, nausea or upset stomach, numbness or tingling in hands, hands or face sweating, chills, trembling/shaking

Associated Features 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 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).

Associated Features Symptoms usually begin before the age of 25 but they may occur in the mid 30’s People with panic disorder may symptoms of: alcoholism, depression, and drug abuse Complications people with panic disorder are more likely to be unemployed, less productive work, and have difficult personal relationship

Etiology There is no cause for panic disorder, but it is more likely to run in your family

Prevalence Though panic is relatively uncommon in the general, it is common clinical settings. Panic disorder is diagnosed in approximately 10 percent of people who are referred for mental health consolation, the percentage is even more dramatic in general medical settings. Its more common for woman to have this disorder than men.

Treatment Cognitive-behavioral therapies should be used together with drug therapy. Ten to 20 visits with a mental health professional should take place over a number of weeks. Common parts of this therapy include: Gaining understanding of and control over distorted views of life stressors, such as other people's behavior or life events. Learning to recognize and replace panic-causing thoughts to decrease the sense of helplessness. Learning stress management and relaxation techniques to help when symptoms occur. Practicing systematic desensitization and exposure therapy, in which you are asked to relax, then imagine the things that cause the anxiety, working from the least fearful to the most fearful. Gradual exposure to the real-life situation also has been used with success to help people overcome their fears.

Treatment Medicine Antidepressants Serotonin-Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors Benzodiazepines monoamine

Prognosis Panic disorder may be long-lasting and difficult to treat. Some people with the disorder may not be cured with treatment. However, most people can expect rapid improvement with drug and behavioral therapies

References Hofmann SG, Smits JA. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69: [PubMed: ]PubMed: Taylor CT, Pollack MH, LeBeau RT, Simon NM. Anxiety disorders: Panic, social anxiety, and generalized anxiety. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2008:chap 32..

Discussion Question Would you rather have panic disorder without agoraphobia than any other disorder?