Symptoms and Specifiers

Symptoms:

List of symptoms for a panic attack according to the DSM-IV-TR. Must have four or more of the symptoms listed (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).

• Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
• Sweating
• Trembling or Shaking
• Shortness of Breath
• Feeling of Choking
• Chest Pain or Discomfort
• Nausea or Abdominal Pain
• Feeling Dizzy, Lightheaded, or Faint
• Feelings of Unreality or Detached from Oneself
• Fear of Losing Control or Going Crazy
• Fear of Dying
• Numbness of Tingling Sensations
• Chills or Hot Flushes

Diagnosis Criteria for Panic Disorder (PD) according to the DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).

• A) Both 1 and 2 below

1- Recurrent unepected panic attacks
2- Panic attacks have been followed by at least 1 month of one (or more) of the
following:
*Persistent concern about having additional attacks
*Worry about the implications of the attack or its consequences
* Significant change in behavior related to the attacks

• B) Panic attacks are not due to direct physiological effects of substance abuse of a general medical condition
• C) Panic attacks are not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as Social Phobia, Specific Phobias, OCD, PTSD, or Separation Anxiety Disorder.
  

Diagnosis Criteria for Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia (PDA) according to the DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).

• A) Anxiety about being in places or situations where escape might be difficult or help may not be available in the event of having a panic attack or symptoms of a panic attack. Fears typically involve characteristic clusters of situations that include being outside the home, in a crowd, standing in line, being on a bridge, or traveling in a vehicle.
  
• B) Situations are avoided or endured with increased distress about having a panic attack or panic-like symptoms; require the presence of a companion.
• C) Panic attacks are not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as Social Phobia, Specific Phobias, OCD, PTSD, or Separation Anxiety Disorder.

Specifiers:

Two types of Panic Disorder:
1) Panic Disorder without Agoraphobia (PD)
2) Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia (PDA)

• About one in three people with panic disorder develops agoraphobia (The Anxiety Disorders Association of America).

Comorbidity:

Often, panic disorders will occurs along with depression, alcoholism, and/or substance abuse. (WebMD).

Causes:

According to WebMD, certain factors are taken into consideration when explaining the cause of Panic Disorder. These factors consist of, family history (genetics), abnormalities in the brain, substance abuse, and major life stress.