Panic Disorder

Experience of sudden panic symptoms (generally out of the blue, without specific triggers) in combination with persistent, lingering worry that panic symptoms will return and fear of those panic symptoms.

Recurrent expected or unexpected panic attacks AND one or more of the following symptoms for at least one month:

Pounding heart, Sweatiness, Feeling of weakness, Faintness, Dizziness, Tingling or numbness in hands, Feeling flushed, Sense of unreality, Feeling of loss of control or losing one’s mind, Fear of dying or something physically wrong (e.g., heart attack, stroke)

Persistent concern about the consequences of the attacks (e.g. “going crazy”, heart attack) or fears of having additional attacks

A significant change in behavior related to attacks (e.g. avoiding exercise)

Duration of panic attacks: a few minutes to 10 minutes (rarely last longer than 1 hour