Definition for panic disorder

Panic disorder is a diagnosed psychiatric mental condition that causes the sufferer to experience sporadic, intense, and often reoccurring panic attacks.

Panic disorder sufferers usually have a series of intense episodes of extreme anxiety, known as panic attacks. These attacks may last from several minutes to hours, and may vary in intensity and specific symptoms of panic over the duration (i.e. rapid heartbeat, perspiration, dizziness, dyspnea,trembling, psychological experience of uncontrollable fear, etc.). Some individuals deal with these events on a regular basis—sometimes daily or weekly. The outward symptoms of a panic attack often cause negative social experiences (i.e. embarrassment, social stigma, ostracization, etc.). As a result, as many as 36% of all individuals with panic disorder also have agoraphobia. less