Patient education: Panic disorder (The Basics)

What is panic disorder? — This is a condition that can make a person feel very scared and anxious for short periods of time. When this happens, it is called a "panic attack." The attacks can also cause chest pain and breathing problems that cause people to visit doctors or emergency departments.

What are the symptoms of panic disorder? — People with panic disorder have panic attacks that can make them:

●Feel very scared and nervous

●Have physical symptoms such as:

•Chest pain

•Trouble breathing

•Fast heartbeat

•Headache

•Stomachache

•Dizziness

The attacks happen without warning and can last several minutes to an hour.

People with panic disorder might also:

●Worry about having more panic attacks

●Avoid situations that might cause them to have a panic attack

●See doctors or go to emergency departments when they have panic attacks

Is there a test for panic disorder? — No. But your doctor or nurse should be able to tell if you have it by learning about your symptoms.

How is panic disorder treated? — Treatments include:

●Cognitive behavioral therapy ("CBT") – You talk with a psychologist or counselor about the things you think and do. Then, they help you change how you think about your situation and how you react to it. This teaches you how to cope better with your panic disorder. In some cases, it might be possible to do "remote" CBT. This could mean working with a therapist online or through a video call rather than in person.

●Medicines – Some medicines used to treat depression or anxiety can help people with panic disorder. Your doctor or nurse will decide which medicines are best for your situation.

Some people have CBT and also take medicines.

What if I want to get pregnant? — If you take medicines to treat panic disorder, talk to your doctor before you start trying to get pregnant. Some of the medicines used to treat panic disorder can cause problems for an unborn baby, so you might need to switch medicines before you get pregnant.

More on this topic

Patient education: Generalized anxiety disorder (The Basics)
Patient education: Depression in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Medicines for depression (The Basics)
Patient education: Coping with stress (The Basics)