Citation

Katerndahl DA. J. Fam. Pract. 1988; 26(1): 49-52.

Affiliation

Department of Family Practice, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78284.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Dowden Health Media)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3339305

Abstract

Although much research has focused on the pathophysiology of panic attacks, little work has been done to describe the phenomenon itself. Twenty-one patients with panic attacks were asked to sequence the panic-related symptoms during an attack in an attempt to clarify the phenomenon. Overall, panic symptoms could be grouped into three categories: early symptoms--consisting of dyspnea, palpitations, chest discomfort, and hot flashes; intermediate symptoms--including shaking, choking, feelings of unreality, sweats, faintness, and dizziness; late symptoms-consisting of fear and paresthesias. Based on symptom clustering and temporal relationships, this study describes the panic phenomenon.

Language: en