preview

Panic Disorder Research Paper

Decent Essays

Exploring Panic Disorder
Everyone has experienced moments of severe anxiety and panic in their lives. Stressful situations can throw our minds into turmoil, causing extreme negative impacts on our bodies. However, there are people who suffer from moments like these far more often than the average person. These people also experience panic in situations that would not seem very stressful to others. This type of recurrent, extreme panic episode is called panic disorder, and it falls under anxiety disorders, a broader category of mental health issues.
An article by McGrandles and Duffy (2012) describes characteristics of panic disorder as including “recurrent panic attacks that occur suddenly and without warning. These can cause persistent …show more content…

People with agoraphobia typically avoid places and situations that they perceive to be dangerous, such as large crowds or enclosed spaces, for fear that it might trigger a panic attack. There are certain people who are more at risk for developing an anxiety disorder such as panic disorder. McGrandles and Duffy (2012) state that “risk factors include internalizing problems and a more inhibited temperament” and “adults with anxiety often report childhood experiences of anxiety” (p. 5). Panic disorder is a powerful and debilitating psychological issue. We will discuss the diagnoses and treatment of this disorder …show more content…

This should be the first action taken to attempt to control and treat the disorder. However, in more severe cases, this simple technique is not enough. Psychological therapy involved in treating panic disorder focuses on helping the patient modify behaviors and responses to situations that will ultimately reduce feelings of panic. These types of treatment can involve many sessions with a mental health professional in order to be successful. For example, McGrandles and Duffy (2012) state “there is a large body of research supporting the use of cognitive behavioral therapy across the spectrum of anxiety disorders” and “psychological interventions such as CBT tend to be considered safer than drug treatments” (p. 5). In the event that psychotherapy is not single-handedly successful, pharmacological therapy can come into play. Certain medications can be taken by the patient to help reduce the severity and frequency of panic attacks. “At present there are several different types of drugs which could be prescribed for the treatment of anxiety such as anti-depressants, benzodiazepines and beta blockers” (McGrandles & Duffy, p. 6). In the event that medication therapy is used, psychological therapy should also continue to be used in conjunction. The patient and doctor must work together in order to determine the best

Get Access