Panic attack is an intense anxiety attack that begins suddenly at an unexpected time and place during the day and is accompanied by physical and psychological symptoms. The attack begins suddenly and reaches its strongest point within 10 minutes. Palpitations, chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, numbness, tremors, sweating, nausea and hot flashes are frequently observed symptoms. These physical symptoms often cause patients to visit the emergency room. During a panic attack, the feeling of imbalance and fainting, unreality or feeling detached from oneself, fear of death, and the thought of losing control are frequently felt psychological symptoms.
Panic attacks that occur when a triggering event is encountered (as in social phobia and Unexpected panic attacks may occur without a situational trigger (such as those seen in specific phobias). There are also attacks that occur during sleep. They are usually seen in the first 1/3 of sleep.
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder that causes recurrent panic attacks, some symptoms continue to be seen between attacks, and causes behavioral changes in the person. The person has a constant worry that a new attack may develop at any time between attacks (anticipatory anxiety).
Over the past 30 years, the prevalence of panic disorder, its consequences, its relationship with cardiovascular diseases, the discovery of the inducibility of panic attacks with some chemical agents, anatomical changes, Its settlement has been an area of intense interest. Its lifetime prevalence was found to be 3.5%. It is 3 times more common in women than in men. However, the duration of the disease is longer in men. Milder disease symptoms prolong the time it takes to get help. Although it is seen at almost all ages, it usually begins in early adulthood (20s). middle ages). It reaches its highest prevalence in women between the ages of 35-45. The first attack often begins outside the home and after the patient's recent challenging life events. The compulsive life event is often a loss (such as death, separation, leaving work life, etc.). A remarkable proportion of panic disorder patients experience physical or emotional parental separation during childhood. Other causes include parental intrusiveness and criticism, increased work responsibilities, and difficulty tolerating anger. Again, the frequency of developing panic disorder increases in individuals with dependent personality traits.
In individuals with panic disorder, social phobia is observed in one-third, anxiety disorder in one-fourth, and specific phobia is observed in one-fifth. There is also a risk of developing alcohol abuse in panic disorder. While it initially reduces anxiety in the person, over time it causes regular alcohol use and an increase in the amount of alcohol consumed by people who are afraid of experiencing anxiety. Alcoholism may be a result. There is a specific relationship between panic disorder and a history of drowning. And in these patients, respiratory symptoms and sleep panic attacks are more common among panic attacks.
75% of panic disorder patients are accompanied by a certain level of agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is a state of intense anxiety about places or situations where it may be difficult to escape, or where it is not possible to get help in case of a panic attack.
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