Panic Disorder

Amal Shine, MD, Anub John, MD and Hugh Peterson, MD, FACP Reviewed 06/2018

BASICS

DESCRIPTION

A classic panic attack that is characterized by rapid onset of a brief period of sympathetic nervous system hyperarousal accompanied by intense fear
In panic disorder, multiple panic ...

DIAGNOSIS

Panic attack: an abrupt surge of intense fear, reaching a peak within minutes in which ≥4 of the following symptoms develop abruptly: (i) palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart r...

TREATMENT

The two options are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and medical therapy. Studies have shown that both have comparable results and neither has advantage over the other. Combined antidepres...

ONGOING CARE

PATIENT EDUCATION

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/panicdisorder.html
Patient information handouts in American Family Physician. 2005; 71:740 and 2006; 74:1393.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/pub...

REFERENCES

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association; 2013.

Furukawa TA, Watanabe N, Churchill R...

ADDITIONAL READING

Chen MH, Tsai SJ. Treatment-resistant panic disorder: clinical significance, concept and management. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2016;70:219–226. [View Abstrac...

CODES

ICD10

F41.0 Panic disorder without agoraphobia
F40.01 Agoraphobia with panic disorder
F43.0 Acute stress reaction

ICD9

300.01 Panic disorder without agoraphobia
300.21 Agoraphobia with panic disorder
3...

CLINICAL PEARLS

For medically able patients, 10 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise at onset of a panic attack often helps patient to feel safe during an attack. Always evaluate a patient with panic ...

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