Panic Disorder Causes & Risk Factors

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• QWhat causes panic disorder?

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  A David Tolin, PhD , Psychology, answered

  People who are vulnerable to develop panic attacks have high levels of anxiety sensitivity.  Anxiety sensitivity refers to a tendency to become distressed about normal symptoms of anxiety, or to view them as more important or dangerous than they really are.  Most of us, if we feel our heart pounding, would probably think, "It must be stress, or the cup of coffee I just had. No big deal."  People with high levels of anxiety sensitivity, on the other hand, tend to think, "Maybe it's a heart attack!"  Even though this thought is not accurate, it serves to make the person feel even more anxious, which makes their heart poung even more, which makes them even more convinced that they are having a heart attack!  Panic disorder is thought to result from this vicious cycle of exaggerated beliefs about the dangerousness of physical sensations.

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• QHow can breathing troubles lead to panic attacks?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  People panic for all kinds of reasons: driving in snow, taking a test, leaving a purse on the subway. One of the big causes of panic attacks is, rightly, having trouble breathing—and that triggers a vicious cycle in which anxiety aggravates breathlessness and breathlessness in turn creates further anxiety. Some patients experience such a severe case that they're convinced they're about to die. The strategy for these people is to slow down and regain control: Stop, purse your lips, and drop your shoulders.
• QWhy do people get panic disorder?

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  A Piedmont Heart Institute answered

  Panic disorder sometimes runs in families, but no one knows for sure why some people have it while others don't. Researchers have found that several parts of the brain are involved in fear and anxiety. By learning more about fear and anxiety in the brain, scientists may be able to create better treatments. Researchers are also looking for ways in which stress and environmental factors may play a role.
  
  This answer is based on source information from the National Institute of Mental Health.
• QWho is affected by panic disorder?

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  A NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answered

  Panic disorder typically first occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood, but may also begin in childhood. Women are twice as likely than men to experience this disorder, and some people may be genetically predisposed to the disorder. About 1 to 2 percent of Americans suffer from panic disorder.

• QWhat are emotional triggers of a panic attack?

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  A Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum , Integrative Medicine, answered

  Although panic attacks and hyperventilation both have physical processes that are also associated with them (i.e., thyroid disorders, magnesium and vitamin deficiencies, etc.) I have found that the most common psychological component is the burying of feelings. Most people find that these attacks occur not during periods of stress, but when they finally have a chance to relax, such as when they are driving a car or watching television. This is because hyperventilation and panic attacks are often caused by suppressed feelings. The attacks occur when these feelings finally bubble up to surface while being split off from the triggering event. In susceptible people, this then triggers the attacks.

  Although one can break the biochemical part of the attack by breathing in and out of a bag (this raises carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which can end the attack) or doing abdominal breathing where the abdomen expands outward during inhalation allowing the person to take a bigger breath, the most important long-term solution is to simply feel what one is feeling without resistance.

   

   

• QWhat causes a panic attack?

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  A Dr. Michael J. Mufson, MD , Psychiatry, answered

  A panic attack is a sudden wave of intense anxiety, apprehension, fearfulness, or terror, with physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitations, sweating, and chest pains. Attacks may occur under stress or for no apparent reason (spontaneous panic attacks).
  
  The underlying biological cause of panic attacks is not known. However, researchers theorize that it involves abnormalities in the areas of the brain responsible for interpreting potential threats, such as the amygdala (the brain's "fear center"), locus ceruleus (area of the brainstem that helps determine which stimuli are worth paying attention to), and hippocampus (plays a central role in processing long-term memories). Imbalances of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin may also play a role.
  
  People with a current or past anxiety or mood disorder are at greater risk for panic attacks. Use of stimulants, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), caffeine, or cocaine, can also promote panic attacks.