Panic Disorder
In this condition factsheet:
Diagnosing Panic Disorder
Your doctor will diagnose panic disorder based on symptoms, family history, and a physical examination. Your doctor will also rule out any other medical causes before making the diagnosis.
In order to be diagnosed with panic disorder, people must have recurrent and unexpected panic attacks plus at least 1 of the following symptoms for 1 month or more:
- constantly fearing that they will have more attacks
- changing behavior due to the panic attacks (e.g., avoiding situations that may provoke an attack)
Treating and Preventing Panic Disorder
The treatment of panic disorder usually involves a combination of medications and behavioural or cognitive therapy. The goals of treatment are to reduce the number and frequency of panic attacks and improve your quality of life.
The most commonly used medications for treating panic disorder include:
- selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as paroxetine*
- serotonin norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as venlafaxine
- tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as imipramine
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as phenelzine
- anti-anxiety medications, including benzodiazepines such as lorazepam
Your doctor may also recommend behavioural therapy such as exposure or relaxation therapy to help reduce fear and anxiety. In exposure therapy, you are slowly exposed to the same situation that triggers panic attacks until fear and anxiety are reduced to a tolerable level or are eliminated. In relaxation therapy, you are provided with techniques to help you relax in situations that have previously caused panic attacks.
Cognitive therapy (psychotherapy) may also be recommended. Cognitive therapy attempts to change your thought patterns by helping you analyze your reactions to panic attack triggers.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Panic-Disorder
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