Humana HealthBeat Transcript Archive

August 23

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder can be extremely debilitating. And it can go undiagnosed — leaving one out of four people with the disorder without the treatment they need to function normally.

The slightest trigger can set off an attack, or sometimes the attack seems to happen without any reason. The attack can include a racing heartbeat, difficulty breathing or chest pain, feeling of terror, and trembling or shaking. It’s basically the “fight or flight” response that we all experience when we’re faced with danger. But a person with panic attacks experiences these symptoms when no danger is present; many times the attacks seem to come out of nowhere.

The key symptom of a panic disorder is a fear of having more panic attacks. This fear can be so strong that the person avoids situations where they might have an attack. Some people isolate themselves completely.

New research on this disorder has found that panic disorders can run in families. It may also be associated with abnormalities in the brain or biochemicals that control the anxiety response.

The good news is that most people who are treated for this problem get better and early treatment can help keep the disease from progressing. A doctor may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy, medicine or a combination of the two.

What if someone thinks they have panic disorder — should they consult a psychiatrist or psychologist?

They should first visit their primary care doctor, to rule out any medical cause, because some medical problems such as heart irregularity or thyroid problems can produce the same symptoms. If it’s panic disorder, then the doctor may refer the patient to a therapist.

Anything new on the horizon?

The National Institute of Mental Health is really focusing on this area, including identifying the genes involved, and how the brain and nervous system interacts with the environment to produce those attacks.

RESOURCES:

Understanding Panic Disorder
National Institute of Mental Health
www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety/upd.cfm

Answers to Your Questions about Panic Disorder
American Psychological Association
www.apa.org/publinfo/panic.html

August 23
Panic Disorder
	Panic disorder can be extremely debilitating. And it can go undiagnosed — leaving one out of four people with the disorder without the treatment they need to function normally. The slightest trigger can set off an attack, or sometimes the attack seems to happen without any reason. The attack can include a racing heartbeat, difficulty breathing or chest pain, feeling of terror, and trembling or shaking. It’s basically the “fight or flight” response that we all experience when we’re faced with danger. But a person with panic attacks experiences these symptoms when no danger is present; many times the attacks seem to come out of nowhere. The key symptom of a panic disorder is a fear of having more panic attacks. This fear can be so strong that the person avoids situations where they might have an attack. Some people isolate themselves completely. New research on this disorder has found that panic disorders can run in families. It may also be associated with abnormalities in the brain or biochemicals that control the anxiety response. The good news is that most people who are treated for this problem get better and early treatment can help keep the disease from progressing. A doctor may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy, medicine or a combination of the two.

	What if someone thinks they have panic disorder — should they consult a psychiatrist or psychologist? They should first visit their primary care doctor, to rule out any medical cause, because some medical problems such as heart irregularity or thyroid problems can produce the same symptoms. If it’s panic disorder, then the doctor may refer the patient to a therapist. Anything new on the horizon? The National Institute of Mental Health is really focusing on this area, including identifying the genes involved, and how the brain and nervous system interacts with the environment to produce those attacks.
	RESOURCES: Understanding Panic Disorder National Institute of Mental Health www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety/upd.cfm Answers to Your Questions about Panic Disorder American Psychological Association www.apa.org/publinfo/panic.html