| Panic Disorder |
|
 |
Causes of
Panic Disorder
The first time a panic attack occurs, it usually takes a person by surprise. Often the person is in an anxiety-provoking situation, but an attack can occur at any time. The person experiences overwhelming anxiety and often fears that the experience will occur again. They may link it to whatever they were doing, or where they were at the time, and this may lead them to fear or avoid the situations where the first panic attack occurred. Unfortunately, this fear also makes a panic attack more likely. Panic Disorder is linked to changes in brain functioning and chemistry and it is clear that people who have the condition are biologically predetermined, as there is often a family history of similar problems.
Panic Disorder can begin at any age, but it usually starts in late adolescence or early adulthood. Children may also suffer from panic attacks and the condition is probably under recognised, as they often find it difficult to explain their experiences.
While Panic Disorder is usually a long-term condition, people often report high variability in the frequency and severity of symptoms. For example, some individuals have panic attacks approximately once a week for months at a time, while others may experience short bursts of more frequent attacks (once a day for a week) separated by weeks or months.
When a panic attack occurs, the brain records when and where it happened. The patient can then anticipate situations that threaten to cause additional panic attacks – including relatively benign situations such as driving to work on a particular highway. When a person with Panic Disorder feels that a life-threatening situation exists, the brain triggers a wide variety of physical reactions and anxiety-related changes to the body. These can include:
- Increased heart rate
- Respiratory changes
- Diarrhoea
- Upset stomach
- Frequent urination
- Chronic dryness of the mouth
The figure shows several areas of physiological changes related to Panic Disorder.
Several Areas of Physiological Change Due to Panic Disorder
Because of the brain’s increased sensitivity to possible threats, the likelihood of a stimulus triggering a panic attack increases.
Neurotransmitters and Panic Disorder Theories
Pathways in the brain that involve the neurotransmitters serotonin, noradrenaline, and GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid) have been implicated in panic disorder, although the exact ways in which these pathways cause Panic Disorder remains speculative.
|
