People can experience Panic Attacks with any of the Disorders but there can be a difference in the type of attack that people experience. Three different types of panic attacks have now been recognized.

* SPONTANEOUS PANIC ATTACKS: This type of attack is associated with Panic Disorder. This attack comes without any warning, day or night, irrespective of what the person is doing. The spontaneous attack is not related to, and is not induced by, any particular situation or place. Many people can be awakened from sleep with this type of attack.

* CUED PANIC ATTACKS: These occur in relation to specific feared situations or places. For example, social situations for people with Social Phobia. Revisiting the scene or scenes reminiscent of the traumatic events in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or exposure to a particular anxiety-producing situation in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The 'cued' attack is rarely experienced in Panic Disorder.

* SITUATIONAL PREDISPOSED PANIC ATTACKS: People with Panic Disorder may experience this type of attack. Some people with Panic Disorder can be predisposed to having panic attacks in certain situations or places, although they are not frightened of the situation or place. For example, someone may experience panic attacks while driving their car. Sometimes they will have them, other times they won't. They are predisposed to having attacks while driving, but the attacks are not a response to a fear of driving.

next: Spontaneous / Uncued Panic Attacks