In rare cases, they may last an hour or more. Panic disorder is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress. These sensations often mimic symptoms of a heart attack or other life-threatening medical conditions. As a result, the diagnosis of panic disorder is frequently not made until extensive and costly medical procedures fail to provide a correct diagnosis or relief. Many people with panic disorder develop intense anxiety between episodes, worrying when and where the next one will strike.
Women are twice as likely as men to develop panic disorder.
Panic disorder typically strikes in young adulthood. Roughly half of all people who have panic disorder develop the condition before age 24. The exact cause of panic disorder is unknown and is the subject of intense scientific investigation. Possible causes include heredity, other biological factors, stressful life events, and overreacting to normal bodily sensations. Some research suggests panic attacks occur when a suffocation alarm mechanism in the brain erroneously fires, falsely reporting that death is imminent.