March 1999 Teaching teens to tame their thoughts. Approximately one in a hundred teenagers between 14 and 17 have panic disorders, making this a major mental health problem for young people, according to Research Assistant Professor of Psychology Sara Mattis, director of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders' Adolescent Panic Treatment Program.
Panic disorder is characterized by sudden rushes of intense anxiety.
Common physical symptoms include difficulty breathing, a pounding heart, dizziness, and trembling. One problem in treating panic disorder is it may be initially misdiagnosed as a medical problem, such as allergies or asthma, Mattis says. Many teens with a panic disorder will begin to avoid certain situations, such as classrooms, public transportation, or being alone, fearing they may have another attack. Our goal is to treat this disorder at its earliest possible stage, before they become adults. The program's treatment helps adolescents recognize the signs of anxiety and avoidance and learn skills to cope with the physical sensations of panic, change their anxious thoughts, and face anxiety-provoking situations.