Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder (PD) is characterised by recurrent unexpected surges of severe anxiety with varying degrees of anticipatory anxiety between attacks. 

‘Panic attacks’ are separate periods of intense fear or discomfort, accompanied by several physical or psychological anxiety symptoms.

Until 1960, panic was thought to be simply the most severe demonstration of general anxiety.  Panic attacks were included in a broad group of anxiety symptoms and disorders until the discovery of a drug that had a specific anti-panic effect. 

Panic attacks are also linked with other conditions including PTSD, SAD and other specific phobias.