Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder is an anxiety disorder based primarily on the occurrence of panic attacks, which are recurrent and often unexpected. It is the experience of recurrent panic attacks, with 1 or more attacks followed by at least 1 month of fear of another panic attack or significant maladaptive behavior related to the attacks. A panic attack is an abrupt period of intense fear or discomfort. Patients with panic disorder frequently present to the emergency department with chest pain, fearing that they are having a heart attack. They commonly report a sudden unexpected and spontaneous onset of fear or discomfort, typically reaching a peak within 10 minutes. It's important to note that a panic disorder diagnosis must rule out other potential causes for the panic attack.