Depression Help
Panic disorder
[?] What is it?
Panic disorder is characterized by the occurrence of anxiety attacks or acute anxiety attacks. By definition, to speak of panic disorder, the patient must make at least four panic attacks within four weeks (or at least if it is followed by a persistent fear of having another attack). These panic attacks are unpredictable and not triggered by particular situations (trac) or organic factors.
Finally, a panic attack by definition has at least four anxiety symptoms among a list of thirteen:
*Sensations of breath or smothering sensation;
*Dizziness, feeling of instability
*Palpitations, tachycardia;
*Tremors or shaking;
*Sweating;
*Feeling of choking;
*Nausea, abdominal discomfort;
*Depersonalization or derealization;
*Numbness or tingling (paresthesia);
*ot flashes or chills;
*Chest pain or discomfort;
*Fear of dying;
*Fear of going crazy or committing an act unchecked.
[?] The signs of the disease
Panic disorder (acute anxiety) is sudden onset. The patient feels a sense of imminent danger, violent, imprecise (fear of imminent death, going crazy, not to control his thoughts or actions, of an imminent disaster …), feeling of helplessness, distress, intense fear, not applicable.
The patient is pale, covered with sweat, agitated or prostrate, uptight, tense, covered with sweat, animated tremor. It can be frozen by the anguish or suffering from a feverish agitation. Breathing is rapid, irregular. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, various pains, palpitations, tremor, feelings of dizziness, blurred vision, keen reflexes are common. The heart is quick and wards can be dilated.
The seizure lasts a few minutes to several hours. She gives a sudden urge to urinate.
The hyperventilation syndrome associated with rapid breathing, shallow breathing, paresthesia around the mouth, tingling and numbness of the extremities, it is closer to tetany (spasmophilia).
Somatic equivalents are very common:
*Cardiovascular: palpitations, dizziness, pseudo-angina …
*Respiratory: dyspnea, cough …
*Digestive: spasms, colic …
Panic disorder can be simple or associated with agoraphobia and its intensity is graded as mild, moderate, severe or total or partial remission.
[?] Do not confuse with …
The acute crisis of anxiety can simulate some visceral diagnoses: pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, surgical disease …
The frequency and severity of acute episodes vary greatly from person to person. They generally yield spontaneously.
[?] Treatment
In mild forms of anxiety are prescribed as anxiolytics benzodiazepines at low doses.
When anxiety takes the form of anxiety attacks, physically and mentally painful:
*A higher dose benzodiazepines,
*Other families of tranquilizers.
In panic attacks, tranquilizers are sometimes inadequate and antidepressants are then the only active ingredient. They are also used in prevention.
Psychotherapy is useful when the patient seeks dialogue. It is more effective than the anxiety is related to a psychological problem, especially if the patient is isolated, without much help from friends. The relaxation gives good results in generalized anxiety.
In specific phobias (agoraphobia, fear of driving, airplane, shops, lifts, etc..) Behavioral techniques give excellent results when patients adhere fully to the program of desensitization and daily tasks to home. Adherence to treatment is a prerequisite for the success of this type of care.
Psychoanalysis is often disappointing.