Diagnostic Parameter, Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder
People with panic disorder have feelings of terror that strike suddenly and repeatedly with no warning. They cannot predict when an attack will occur, and many develop intense anxiety between episodes, worrying when and where the next attack will strike.

Panic disorder is often accompanied by other conditions such as depression or alcoholism, and may spawn phobias, which can develop in places or situations where panic attacks have occurred. For example, if a panic attack strikes while you're riding an elevator, you may develop a fear of elevators and perhaps start avoiding them.

Panic Attack

The person suddenly develops a severe fear or discomfort that peaks within 10 minutes.

During this discrete episode, 4 or more of the following symptoms occur:

Chest pain or other chest discomfort
Chills or hot flashes
Choking sensation
Derealization (feeling unreal) or depersonalization (feeling detached from self)
Dizzy, lightheaded, faint or unsteady
Fear of dying
Fears of loss of control or becoming insane
Heart pounds, races or skips beats
Nausea or other abdominal discomfort
Numbness or tingling
Sweating
Shortness of breath or smothering sensation
Trembling

Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia

The person has recurrent panic attacks that are not expected.

For a month or more after at least 1 of these attacks, the person has had 1 or more of:

Ongoing concern that there will be more attacks.
Worry as to the significance of the attack or its consequences.
Material change in behavior, such as doing something to avoidance.
The patient also has agoraphobia.

The panic attacks are not directly caused by a general medical condition or by substance use, including medications and drugs of abuse.

The panic attacks are not better explained by another Anxiety or Mental Disorder.

Panic Disorder Without Agoraphobia

The person has recurrent panic attacks that are not expected.

For a month or more after at least 1 of these attacks, the patient has had 1 or more of:

Ongoing concern that there will be more attacks.
Worry as to the significance of the attack or its consequences.
Material change in behavior, such as avoidance.

The person does not have agoraphobia.

The panic attacks are not directly caused by a general medical condition or by substance use, including medications and drugs of abuse.

The panic attacks are not better explained by another Anxiety or Mental Disorder.