Panic Disorder Research Papers

What is panic disorder? According to The Mayo Clinic, “A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause.” Panic attacks come at random and are triggered by the environment surrounding person. In the United States of America alone, panic disorder/ attacks affect approximately 6 million adults. It is also twice as common in women then in men (National Institute of Mental Health). Panic disorder is affiliated with many other diseases such as: social phobia, agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disease and most forms of depression (Angst). Panic disorder affects about one in ten of the general population (Angst). Repeated panic attacks only affect 2.7% to 7.1% of the world’s population (Angst). Panic disorder usually appears in teens and young adults. However, panic disorder can be present in older adults. Also repeated panic attacks affect the female sex seven times more than the males (Angst). Panic was recognized as an exclusive psychiatric condition in the 1980s (Angst). There are a number of tests that doctors do to diagnose an individual with panic disorder. They do the regular physical examination that occurs at most doctor visits. They run blood tests to …show more content…
If one has long family history with panic disorder it is more likely for the individual to have panic disorder. Causes for panic are mainly from stress, so if there is too much responsibility for a person, if there has been a tragic loss or any traumatic experience. The excessive intake of caffeine and smoking increase one’s risk for panic attacks. The primary cause for panic attacks is the brain. The brain changes the way it functions, and this has to do with the body’s natural “fight or flight” response (Mayo Clinic). However, there is yet to be an explanation for the minds panic when there is no present