mental health disorders
Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
Diagnosis of Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
A doctor's evaluation, based on standard psychiatric diagnostic criteria Because serious physical disorders often cause some of the same physical and emotional symptoms as panic attacks, doctors first make sure people do not have a physical disorder. A doctor gathers information about the person's experience of the attacks and may do tests for other problems. Panic disorder is diagnosed when people have repeated unprovoked and unexpected panic attacks plus at least one of the following for at least 1 month: Persistent worry that they will have more panic attacks or worry about the consequences of the attack (for example, that they will lose control or go crazy) Changes in behavior due to the panic attacks (for example, avoiding situations that may cause an attack) Once doctors are confident that a person's symptoms are caused by a panic disorder, they try to avoid doing extensive tests when future panic attacks occur unless the person's symptoms or physical examination results suggest a new problem. 