1 / 12

Panic attack

Panic attack. What is a Panic Attack? Abrupt experience of intense fear or discomfort Accompanied by several physical symptoms (e.g., breathlessness, chest pain) DSM-IV Subtypes of Panic Attacks Situationally bound (cued) panic – Expected and bound to some situations

mitch
Download Presentation

Panic attack

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Panic attack

  2. What is a Panic Attack? • Abrupt experience of intense fear or discomfort • Accompanied by several physical symptoms (e.g., breathlessness, chest pain) • DSM-IV Subtypes of Panic Attacks • Situationally bound (cued) panic – Expected and bound to some situations • Unexpected (uncued) panic – Unexpected “out of the blue” without warning • Situationally predisposed panic – May or may not occur in some situations • Panic is Analogous to Fear as an Alarm Response

  3. The Phenomenology of Panic Attacks (cont.) The relationships among anxiety, fear, and panic attack

  4. Panic Disorder • Two major types: with or without agoraphobia • Consists of a pattern of recurring panic attacks • Emotional, physical, cognitive and behavioural components • Main fear is of losing control(consequence = dying, going crazy, embarrassment, not being able to get help) • The fear of having a panic attack becomes a problem of itself, possibly leading to agoraphobia(fear of open spaces, crowds etc. Any place where escape or finding help is difficult or embarrassing)or other phobias

  5. Panic attack: At least 4 symptoms within 10 minutes • Heart:racing, palpitations, pounding,dizzy, lightheaded, faint, unsteady • Skin: sweating,paresthesias,chills or hot flashes • Muscles: Trembling, shaking • Respiratory: shortness of breath, smothering,choking feeling, Chest pain or discomfort • Gastrointestinal:nausea or distress • Cognitive/mental:derealization/depersonalization • fear of losing control/going crazy • fear of dying

  6. Panic disorder is a condition in which a person feels sudden overwhelming fright, usually without any reasonable cause

  7. Facts and Statistics • Occurs in 3.5% of Population • 75% are Women • Onset Between (25-29 yrs) • Attacks Often Begin at Puberty • 20% Attempt Suicide • Average 37 Medical Visits / Year

  8. Rx. • Psychotherapy • Relaxation techniques • Pharmacotherapy

  9. Patients with panic disorder and preexisting comorbid depression who are treated with benzodiazepines have poorer outcomes than patients taking antidepressants. Cognitive behavior therapy includes applied relaxation, exposure through imagery, panic management, breathing retraining, and cognitive restructuring

More Related