Panic disorder

Panic disorder is a real medical condition. People who have it are not 'faking', nor are they able to 'calm down' at will. The disorder can cause serious disruption to a person's life, but it can be treated with psychotherapy and medication.

What is panic disorder?

Panic disorder is when you experience repeated panic attacks that:

• Cause you to worry about them or about other people noticing them, and;
• Cause you to change your behaviour in the hope of avoiding the attacks, or of avoiding other people noticing them.

People with panic disorder are often concerned that the symptoms they are experiencing indicate a physical problem such as heart attack or stroke. Therefore, many people with panic disorder seek medical treatment more often than usual and are frequent visitors to their doctors' clinics and to hospital emergency rooms.

Even when people are confident about their symptoms being the result of a panic attack, they may worry that their symptoms may bring about physical illness - for example, that their fast heart rate might be causing harm.

If you commonly experience fear, discomfort and anxiety only in response to certain situations (such as public speaking, social interactions or the like) then you are probably not suffering from panic disorder; you might be suffering from another type of anxiety disorder, such as social anxiety disorder or generalised anxiety disorder. Consult your doctor to receive the appropriate treatment.

Causes

It is not known what exactly causes panic disorder. Panic attacks may be caused by problems in the circuitry of the brain that controls the physical response to stress.

There is some genetic component to panic disorder, as it can run in families.

Signs and symptoms

A panic attack is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V) as experiencing four or more of the following symptoms suddenly and unexpectedly, without any apparent reason:

• A pounding heartbeat or a quick, 'racing' pulse;
• Sweating;
• Shaking or trembling;
• Feeling short of breath;
• Feeling as if you are choking, or gasping for air;
• Chest pain;
• Nausea or stomach-ache;
• Feeling dizzy, faint or light-headed;
• Numbness, tingling;
• Feeling chills or heat sensations;
• Feeling of unreality or 'dispersonalisation' - feeling as if you are not inside your own body;
• Fear of 'going crazy' or losing control, and/or;
• Fear of dying.

Methods for diagnosis

Diagnosing panic disorder is not easy, since there are many other medical conditions that can cause your symptoms. Your doctor will likely take your medical history and perform a physical examination.

Types of treatment

Panic disorder can be treated by medication as well as by psychotherapy ('talking therapy'). Both these methods have their advantages and disadvantages; they are equally effective, but are more effective when used together.

Both types of treatments may not be immediately effective. It can take several weeks for the effects to be noticed.

Psychotherapy

Cognitive behaviour therapy is the recommended psychotherapy for treating panic disorder. It can help you prepare for panic attacks and manage them when they appear.

Psychotherapy, or 'talking therapy', can help with the management of panic disorder. 

Medication

Several types of medications can help treat panic disorder or help with panic attacks. These include:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) - currently the medications of choice for panic disorder;
• Serotonin-neuroepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs);
• Tricyclic antidepressants;
• Beta-blockers, and;
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors).

The specific type and dose of medication that is recommended for each case varies, according to the individual's circumstances.

Breath control exercises

Panic attacks often bring about rapid breathing (hyperventilation), which in turn causes the panic symptoms to worsen. You can learn breathing techniques that can enable you to be more aware of your breathing during a panic attack and to control it better. Note that breathing control is meant to help you manage and ease the symptoms; the method cannot treat the root cause of panic disorder.

Prognosis

Panic disorder is usually first experienced in adolescence or young adulthood. Although treatment does help many people, panic disorder can be a chronic condition, lasting many years. It rarely goes away if not treated. Long-term treatment can help manage the disorder and reduce the frequency and severity of the attacks.