Panic Disorder
WHAT IS PANIC DISORDER?
Panic disorder is a serious health problem in this country. At least 1.6 percent of
adult Americans, or 3 million people, will have panic disorder at some time in their
lives. The disorder is strikingly different from other types of anxiety in that panic
attacks are so sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often disabling.
Once someone has had a panic attack—for example while driving, shopping in a
crowded store, or riding in an elevator—he or she may develop irrational fears,
called phobias, about these situations and begin to avoid them. Eventually, the pattern of
avoidance and level of anxiety about another attack may reach the point where the
individual with panic disorder may be unable to drive or even step out of the house. At
this stage, the person is said to have panic disorder with agoraphobia. Thus panic
disorder can have as serious an impact on a person's daily life as other major
illnesses—unless the individual receives effective treatment.
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