PSY 395 Lecture 9: Panic Disorder
Document Summary
Panic disorder: recurrent, unexpected attacks (on exam, panic attacks seem to come out of the blue , worry about future attacks, abrupt onset of 4 or more symptoms. Symptoms of an acute panic attack: palpitations, pounding heart, accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling or shaking, sensations of shortness of breath, feelings of choking, chest pain or discomfort. Prevalence, age of onset, and gender differences: 4. 7% lifetime prevalence rate, twice as prevalent in woman as men, typically begins in 20s to 40s, follows chronic and disabling course. Timing of a first panic attack: first attack frequently follows feelings of distress or highly stressful life circumstance, most adults who experience single panic attack do not develop panic disorder, 23% of adults experience 1 panic attack. Comorbidity with other disorders: 83% of people with panic disorder have at least one comorbid disorder, 50-70% will experience significant depression at some point in their lives.
