Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear and discomfort that may include palpitations, otherwise defined as a fluttering, rapid, irregular heartbeat, sweating, chest pain or chest discomfort, shortness of breath, trembling, dizziness, numbness, confusion, or a sense of impending doom or loss of control.[1][2][8] Typically, these symptoms peak within ten minutes of onset and can last for roughly 30 minutes, though their duration can vary anywhere from seconds to even hours.[3][9] While they can be extremely frightening and distressing, panic attacks themselves are not physically dangerous.[7][10]
| Panic attack | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A depiction of someone experiencing a panic attack being reassured by another person | |
| Specialty | Psychiatry |
| Symptoms | Periods of intense fear, palpitations, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, numbness[1][2] |
| Complications | Self-harm, suicide,[2] agoraphobia |
| Usual onset | Over minutes[2] |
| Duration | Seconds to hours[3] |
| Causes | Panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, drug use, depression, medical problems[2][4] |
| Risk factors | Nicotine, caffeine, cannabis, psychological stress[2] |
| Diagnostic method | After other possible causes excluded[2] |
| Differential diagnosis | Hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, heart disease, lung disease, drug use, dysautonomia[2] |
| Treatment | Counselling, medications[5] |
| Medication | Acute: Benzodiazepines[6] Preventative: Antidepressants, anxiolytics |
| Prognosis | Usually good[7] |
| Frequency | 3% (EU), 11% (US)[2] |
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual V (DSM-5) defines them as "an abrupt surge of intense fear or intense discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes and during which time four or more of the following symptoms occur." These symptoms include, but are not limited to, the ones mentioned above.[11]
Panic attacks function as a marker for assessing severity of diagnosis, course, and comorbidity (the simultaneous presence of two or more diagnoses) across an array of disorders, including, but not only limited to, anxiety disorders. Hence, panic attacks can be listed as a specifier that is applicable to all disorders found in the DSM.[12]
Panic attacks can be triggered by a identifiable source, or they may happen without any warning and without a specific, recognizable situation.[2]
Some known causes that increase the risk of having a panic attack include medical and psychiatric conditions (i.e. panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorder, depression), substances (nicotine, caffeine), and psychological stress.[2] [4]
Before making a diagnosis, it is important to eliminate other conditions that can produce similar symptoms, such as hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland), hyperparathyroidism (an overactive parathyroid gland), heart disease, lung disease, drug use, and dysautonomia, disease of the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating the body's involuntary physical processes.[2][13]
Treatment of panic attacks should be directed at the underlying cause.[7] In those with frequent attacks, counseling or medications may be used, as both preventative and abortive measures.[5] Breathing training and muscle relaxation techniques may also be useful in stopping the panic attack from occurring or shortening its duration.[14]
Panic attacks often appear frightening to both those experiencing and those witnessing them, and often, people tend to think they are having heart attacks due to the symptoms. However, they do not cause any real physical harm or danger.
It is important to note that previous studies have suggested that those who suffer from anxiety-related disorders (i.e. panic disorder) are at higher risk of suicide.[15]
In Europe, approximately 3% of the population has a panic attack in a given year while in the United States, they affect about 11%.[2] Panic attacks are more prevalent in females than males and often begin during puberty or early adulthood.[2] Children and older adults are less commonly affected.[2]
Signs and symptoms
When people experience a panic attack, it usually comes on very suddenly and unexpectedly with a wide range of symptoms that tend to last, on average, a few minutes.[16] Typically, the symptoms of panic attacks reach their worst intensity in the first minute, before subsiding over the course of several minutes.[17] During this time, people often feel intense fear that something catastrophic will happen despite there being no immediate danger to their person. [1] The frequency of panic attacks vary between individuals, with some people experiencing a panic attack as frequently as every week, while others could have one panic attack per year.[18] The features that help define a panic attack are the collection of symptoms that accompany a panic attack as well as the fact that a panic attack occurs unprompted; meaning there is usually no triggering event that causes a panic attack.[18]
Panic attacks are associated with many different symptoms, with a person experiencing at least four of the following symptoms: increased heart rate, chest pain, palpitations (i.e. feeling like your heart is pounding out of your chest), difficulty breathing, choking sensation, nausea, abdominal pain, dizziness, lightheadedness (i.e. feeling like you might pass out), numbness or tingling (also called paresthesias), derealization (i.e. feeling detached from reality, like the events occurring are not real), depersonalization (i.e. feeling disconnected from your body or thoughts), fear of losing control, and fear of dying. [18]
These physical symptoms are interpreted with alarm in people prone to panic attacks. This results in increased anxiety and forms a positive feedback loop, meaning that the more a person experiences symptoms associated with a panic attack, the more they experience feelings of anxiety which serve to worsen their panic attacks.[19] Panic attacks are distinguished from other forms of anxiety by their intensity and their sudden, episodic nature.[20] They are often experienced in conjunction with anxiety disorders and other psychological conditions, although panic attacks are not generally indicative of a mental disorder.
Chest pain
People can experience a wide range of symptoms during their panic attacks; they tend to be very intense and frightening and the common symptoms of difficulty breathing and chest pain can sometimes cause people to believe they are having a heart attack, leading them to go to the emergency department.[17] Because chest pain and difficulty breathing are commonly symptoms of some sort of heart disease (such as a heart attack), it is important to rule out life-threatening reasons for their symptoms.[21] A heart attack (also called a myocardial infarction) occurs when there is a blockage in the arteries going to the heart, causing less blood to get to the heart tissue, and ultimately causing the heart tissue to die.[21] This will be evaluated in the emergency department with an EKG (i.e. a picture of the electrical activity of the heart) and by measuring a hormone called troponin, which is released from the heart tissue during times of stress on the tissue.[21]
Causes
Panic attacks can be caused by a mix of long-term biological, environmental, and social factors. Biological factors that may lead to panic attacks include psychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive–compulsive disorder, heart conditions such as mitral valve prolapse, low blood pressure, overactive thyroid, neuroendocrine tumors (pheochromocytoma) and inner ear disturbances (labyrinthitis). Dysregulation of the norepinephrine system, which is responsible for coordinating the body's fight-or-flight response, in the locus coeruleus, an area of the brain stem, has been linked to panic attacks as well.[22]
Panic order tends to arise in early adulthood, though it can occur at any age. It is more common in women and usually arises more in individuals with above-average intelligence.[23][24] Research involving identical twins has shown that if one twin has an anxiety disorder, the other is likely to have one too.[25]
Panic attacks may also occur due to short-term stressors. Major personal losses, like the end of a romantic relationship, life transitions, such as jobs, moving, etc. and significant life changes may all trigger a panic attack. Individuals who are naturally anxious, need a lot of reassurance, worry excessively about their health, overcautious view of the world, and cumulative stress are more likely to experience panic attacks.[20] [26] For teenagers/adolescents, social transitions, including classes and schools may also be a contributing factor.[27]
People often experience panic attacks as a direct result of exposure to specific fears or phobias. A situation can become associated to panic if someone has had a previous reaction before in similar contexts. Individuals may also have a cognitive or behavioral predisposition, certain thoughts, patterns, and behaviors that make them more susceptible to panic attacks in certain situations.
Substances may also induce panic attacks. For example, discontinuation or marked reduction in the dose of a drug (drug withdrawal) without tapering, such as an antidepressant (antidepressant discontinuation syndrome), can cause a panic attack. Other substances that are commonly known to be associated with panic attacks include marijuana and nicotine. [28][29]
Panic disorder
People who have repeated, persistent attacks or feel severe anxiety about having another attack are said to have panic disorder. Panic disorder is strikingly different from other types of anxiety disorders in that panic attacks are often sudden and unprovoked.[30] However, panic attacks experienced by those with panic disorder may also be linked to or heightened by certain places or situations, making daily life difficult.[31]
If a person has repeated and unexpected panic attacks, this could be a potential sign of panic disorder. According to the DSM-5, panic disorder can be diagnosed if a patient has not only recurrent panic attacks but also experiences at least a month of anxiety or worry about having additional attacks. This concern may lead to the person to alter their behavior to avoid situations that triggered the attack. It is important to keep in mind that panic disorder cannot be diagnosed if the patient has another disorder that is causing the panic attacks (i.e. social anxiety disorder).[19]
Patients affected by panic disorder can struggle with depression and a diminished quality of life. Compared to the general population, they are also at increased risk for substance abuse and addiction.[19]
Agoraphobia
Panic disorder frequently presents with agoraphobia, which is an anxiety disorder where the individual presents with fear of a situation from which they cannot leave or escape, especially if a panic attack occurs. People who have had a panic attack in certain situations may develop phobias of these situations and begin to take measure to avoid them. Eventually, the pattern of avoidance and level of anxiety about another attack may reach the point where individuals with panic disorder are unable to drive or even step out of the house, preferring the comfort of remaining in a safe and known place.[32] At this stage, the person is said to have panic disorder with agoraphobia.[33]
The word "agoraphobia" comes from the Greek words agora (αγορά) and phobos (φόβος), with the term "agora" referring to the city centre in an ancient Greek city. In Japan, people who exhibit extreme agoraphobia to the point of becoming unwilling or unable to leave their homes are referred to as Hikikomori.[34] The phenomena in general is known by the same name, and it is estimated that roughly half a million Japanese youths are Hikikomori.[35]
Pathophysiology
When panic attacks occur, people experience the sudden onset of fear and anxiety in the setting of no actual perceived threat (ex. your mind believes there is something threatening your wellbeing, but there is nothing actual life-threatening occurring). This fear-based response leads to a release of a hormone called adrenaline (also known as epinephrine), which brings about the fight-or-flight response. One part of our nervous system is made up of both the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight-or-flight response, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the rest-and-digest response.[36] The sympathetic nervous system prepares our body for strenuous physical activity (i.e. fight or flight) by affecting different bodily functions such as increasing heart rate, increasing breathing, sweating and many others, leading to the physical symptoms that accompany a panic attack.[36] The reason panic attacks occur remain unclear; there are several different ideas for why some people experience panic attacks while others don't. The current theories include the fear network model, acid-base disturbances in the brain, false suffocation alarm, and irregular amygdala activity (i.e. the part of the brain responsible for controlling emotions, such as fear, and identifying threats).[37][38][39][40]
Neuroimaging suggests heightened activity in the amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, and brainstem regions including the periaqueductal gray, parabrachial nucleus, and Locus coeruleus.[41] In particular, the amygdala has been suggested to have a critical role.[37] The combination of increased activity in the amygdala (fear center) and brainstem along with decreased blood flow and blood sugar in the brain can lead to decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) region of the brain.[42] There is evidence that having an anxiety disorder increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).[43] Those affected also have a reduction in heart rate variability.[43]
Neurotransmitter imbalances
Many neurotransmitters are affected when the body is under the increased stress and anxiety that accompany a panic attack. Some include serotonin, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), dopamine, norepinephrine, and glutamate. More research into how these neurotransmitters interact with one another during a panic attack is needed to make any solid conclusions, however.
An increase of serotonin in certain pathways of the brain seems to be correlated with reduced anxiety. More evidence that suggests serotonin plays a role in anxiety is that people who take SSRIs tend to feel a reduction of anxiety when their brain has more serotonin available to use.[44]
The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) is GABA. Most of the pathways that use GABA tend to reduce anxiety immediately.[44]
Dopamine's role in anxiety is not well understood. Some antipsychotic medications that affect dopamine production have been proven to treat anxiety. However, this may be attributed to dopamine's tendency to increase feelings of self-efficacy and confidence, which indirectly reduces anxiety.[44]
Many physical symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heart rate and hand tremors, are regulated by norepinephrine. Drugs that counteract norepinephrine's effect may be effective in reducing the physical symptoms of a panic attack.[44] Nevertheless, some drugs that increase 'background' norepinephrine levels such as tricyclics and SNRIs are effective for the long-term treatment of panic attacks, possibly by blunting the norepinephrine spikes associated with panic attacks.[45]
Because glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter involved in the central nervous system (CNS), it can be found in almost every neural pathway in the body. Glutamate is likely involved in conditioning, which is the process by which certain fears are formed, and extinction, which is the elimination of those fears.[44]
Cardiac mechanism
People who have been diagnosed with panic disorder have approximately double the risk of coronary heart disease.[46] Panic attacks can cause chest pain by directly affecting the circulation in the coronary vasculature. A panic attack induces significant sympathetic activation, which can cause vasoconstriction of small coronary vessels and microvascular angina. Autonomic nervous system activation and hyperventilation during panic attacks may induce coronary artery spasm (vasospasm). This process may result in ischemic damage to the myocardium and cardiac chest pain, despite a normal angiogram.[47]
In individuals with coronary artery disease, panic attacks and psychological stress may exacerbate ischemic pain by increasing myocardial oxygen demand through increased heart rate, blood pressure, coronary vasomotor tone, or sympathetic hyperactivity regulated by the autonomic nervous system.[47][48][49]
Diagnosis
According to the DSM-5, a panic attack is part of the diagnostic class of anxiety disorders.[50] DSM-5 criteria for a panic attack is defined as "an abrupt surge of intense fear or intense discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes and during which time four or more of the following symptoms occur":[50]
|
While some patients go to the emergency department due to their physical symptoms, there is no laboratory or imaging test used to diagnose panic attacks, it is a purely clinical diagnosis (i.e. the doctor uses their experience and expertise to diagnose panic attacks) once other more life-threatening diseases have been ruled-out.[18] Due to the physical symptoms that occur with a panic attack, people tend go to the emergency department for further evaluation, however, those who are experiencing panic attacks that are affecting their health and wellness should be seen by a mental health professional, such as a therapist or psychiatrist.[18] Screening tools such as the Panic Disorder Screener (PADIS) can be used to detect possible cases of disorder and suggest the need for a formal diagnostic assessment.[51]
Treatment
Panic disorder is usually effectively treated with a variety of interventions, including psychological therapies and medication.[52][20] Cognitive-behavioral therapy has the most complete and longest duration of effect, followed by specific selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.[53] A 2009 review found positive results from therapy and medication and a much better result when the two were combined.[54]
Some maintaining causes include avoidance of panic-provoking situations or environments, anxious/negative self-talk ("what-if" thinking), mistaken beliefs ("these symptoms are harmful and/or dangerous"), and withheld feelings.
Lifestyle changes
Caffeine may cause or exacerbate panic anxiety. Anxiety can temporarily increase during withdrawal from caffeine and various other drugs.[55]
Increased and regimented aerobic exercise such as running has been shown to have a positive effect on combating panic anxiety. There is evidence that suggests that this effect is correlated to the release of exercise-induced endorphins and the subsequent reduction of the stress hormone cortisol.[56]
There remains a chance of panic symptoms becoming triggered or being made worse due to increased respiration rate that occurs during aerobic exercise. This increased respiration rate can lead to hyperventilation and hyperventilation syndrome, which mimics symptoms of a heart attack, thus inducing a panic attack.[57] The benefits of incorporating an exercise regimen have shown the best results when paced accordingly.[58]
Meditation may also be helpful in the treatment of panic disorders.[59]
Muscle relaxation techniques are useful to some individuals. These can be learned using recordings, videos, or books. While muscle relaxation has proved to be less effective than cognitive-behavioral therapies in controlled trials, many people still find at least temporary relief from muscle relaxation.[26]
Breathing exercises
In the great majority of cases, hyperventilation is involved, exacerbating the effects of the panic attack. Breathing retraining exercise helps to rebalance the oxygen and CO2 levels in the blood.[60]
David D. Burns recommends breathing exercises for those with anxiety. One such breathing exercise is a 5-2-5 count. Using the stomach (or diaphragm)—and not the chest—inhale (feel the stomach come out, as opposed to the chest expanding) for 5 seconds. As the maximal point at inhalation is reached, hold the breath for 2 seconds. Then slowly exhale, over 5 seconds. Repeat this cycle twice and then breathe 'normally' for 5 cycles (1 cycle = 1 inhale + 1 exhale). The point is to focus on breathing and relax the heart rate. Regular diaphragmatic breathing may be achieved by extending the out-breath by counting or humming.[61]
Although breathing into a paper bag was a common recommendation for short-term treatment of symptoms of an acute panic attack,[62] it has been criticized as inferior to measured breathing, potentially worsening the panic attack and possibly reducing needed blood oxygen.[63][64] While the paper bag technique increases needed carbon dioxide and so reduces symptoms, it may excessively lower oxygen levels in the bloodstream.
Capnometry, which provides exhaled CO2 levels, may help guide breathing.[65][66]
Therapy
According to the American Psychological Association, "most specialists agree that a combination of cognitive and behavioral therapies are the best treatment for panic disorder. Medication might also be appropriate in some cases."[67] The first part of therapy is largely informational; many people are greatly helped by simply understanding exactly what panic disorder is and how many others experience it. Many people with panic disorder are worried that their panic attacks mean they are "going crazy" or that the panic might induce a heart attack. Cognitive restructuring helps people to replace those thoughts with more realistic, positive ways of viewing the attacks.[68] Avoidant behavior is one of the key aspects that prevent people with frequent panic attacks from functioning healthily.[26] Exposure therapy,[69] which includes repeated and prolonged confrontation with feared situations and body sensations, helps weaken anxiety responses to panic-inducing external and internal stimuli and reinforce realistic ways of viewing panic symptoms.
In deeper-level psychoanalytic approaches, in particular object relations theory, panic attacks are frequently associated with splitting (psychology), paranoid-schizoid and depressive positions, and paranoid anxiety. They are often found to be comorbid with borderline personality disorder and child sexual abuse. Paranoid anxiety may reach the level of a persecutory anxiety state.[70]
There was a meta-analysis of the comorbidity of panic disorders and agoraphobia. It used exposure therapy to treat patients over a period. Hundreds of patients were used in these studies and they all met the DSM-IV criteria for both of these disorders.[71] A result was that thirty-two percent of patients had a panic episode after treatment. They concluded that the use of exposure therapy has lasting efficacy for a client who is living with a panic disorder and agoraphobia.[71]
The efficacy of group therapy treatment over conventional individual therapy for people with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia appears similar.[72]
Medication
Medication options for panic attacks typically include benzodiazepines and antidepressants. Benzodiazepines are being prescribed less often because of their potential side effects, such as dependence, fatigue, slurred speech, and memory loss.[73] Antidepressant treatments for panic attacks include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and MAO inhibitors (MAOIs). SSRIs in particular tend to be the first drug treatment used to treat panic attacks. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants appear similar for short-term efficacy.[74]
SSRIs carry a relatively low risk since they are not associated with much tolerance or dependence, and are difficult to overdose with. TCAs are similar to SSRIs in their many advantages but come with more common side effects such as weight gain and cognitive disturbances. They are also easier to overdose on. MAOIs are generally suggested for patients who have not responded to other forms of treatment.[75]
While the use of drugs in treating panic attacks can be very successful, it is generally recommended that people also be in some form of therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. Drug treatments are usually used throughout the duration of panic attack symptoms and discontinued after the patient has been free of symptoms for at least six months. It is usually safest to withdraw from these drugs gradually while undergoing therapy.[26] While drug treatment seems promising for children and adolescents, they are at an increased risk of suicide while taking these medications and their well-being should be monitored closely.[75]
Prognosis
Roughly one-third are treatment-resistant.[76] These people continue to have panic attacks and various other panic disorder symptoms after receiving treatment.[76]
Many people being treated for panic attacks begin to experience limited symptom attacks. These panic attacks are less comprehensive, with fewer than four bodily symptoms being experienced.[20]
It is not unusual to experience only one or two symptoms at a time, such as vibrations in their legs, shortness of breath, or an intense wave of heat traveling up their bodies, which is not similar to hot flashes due to estrogen shortage. Some symptoms, such as vibrations in the legs, are sufficiently different from any normal sensation that they indicate a panic disorder. Other symptoms on the list can occur in people who may or may not have panic disorder. Panic disorder does not require four or more symptoms to all be present at the same time. Causeless panic and racing heartbeat are sufficient to indicate a panic attack.[20]
Epidemiology
In Europe, about 3% of the population has a panic attack in a given year while in the United States they affect about 11%.[2] They are more common in females than in males.[2] They often begin during puberty or early adulthood.[2] Children and older people are less commonly affected.[2] A meta-analysis was conducted on data collected about twin studies and family studies on the link between genes and panic disorder. The researchers also examined the possibility of a link to phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and generalized anxiety disorder. The researchers used a database called MEDLINE to accumulate their data.[77] The results concluded that the aforementioned disorders have a genetic component and are inherited or passed down through genes. For the non-phobias, the likelihood of inheriting is 30–40%, and for the phobias, it was 50–60%.[77]
See also
References
External links
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