Difference between panic and anxiety attacks
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Differences Between Panic and Anxiety Attacks
Understanding the differences between panic and anxiety attacks is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Both conditions are related to anxiety disorders but have distinct characteristics and implications.
Definition and Onset: Panic Attacks vs. Anxiety Attacks
Panic Attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear that trigger severe physical reactions without any apparent cause. These attacks are characterized by abrupt onset and can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, chest tightness, shortness of breath, hyperventilation, sweating, and trembling2 4 5. Panic attacks are often described as a manifestation of the body's fight-or-flight response, preparing to defend against perceived danger2.
Anxiety Attacks, on the other hand, are not officially recognized as a distinct condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). They generally refer to periods of intense worry or fear that build up gradually and are often related to a specific stressor or situation. Anxiety attacks can last longer than panic attacks and are typically associated with ongoing stress or anxiety disorders1 7.
Symptoms and Cognitive Features
Panic Attacks are marked by a cluster of severe symptoms that include both physiological and cognitive aspects. Physiological symptoms can include palpitations, dyspnea, and paresthesias, while cognitive symptoms often involve a fear of imminent death, collapse, or losing control4 5. These attacks can occur spontaneously or in response to specific situations, and they are often accompanied by a feeling of being out of control and intense worry about future attacks2 4.
Anxiety Attacks involve symptoms that are more related to chronic anxiety, such as persistent worry, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating. The cognitive features of anxiety attacks are typically directed towards future ordeals and are less immediate than those experienced during panic attacks4 7.
Duration and Frequency
Panic Attacks are usually short-lived, peaking within minutes and rarely lasting longer than an hour. They can occur frequently and unexpectedly, which can lead to significant behavioral changes and avoidance of places where previous attacks have occurred1 2 4.
Anxiety Attacks can last for extended periods, sometimes hours or even days, depending on the level of stress and the individual's coping mechanisms. The frequency of anxiety attacks is often linked to ongoing stressors and can be more predictable than panic attacks1 7.
Impact on Daily Life
Panic Attacks can severely impact an individual's quality of life, leading to avoidance behaviors, social withdrawal, and a significant decrease in productivity. The fear of having another attack can be debilitating and may result in conditions such as agoraphobia1 2 6.
Anxiety Attacks also affect daily life but tend to do so in a more chronic manner. Individuals may experience ongoing stress and worry that interfere with their ability to function effectively in various aspects of life, including work and social interactions1 7.
Treatment Approaches
Panic Attacks are often treated with a combination of medications (such as antidepressants and benzodiazepines) and psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on learning, monitoring, breathing techniques, rethinking, and exposure to feared situations2 8.
Anxiety Attacks are typically managed through similar therapeutic approaches, including medications and CBT. However, treatment may also focus on long-term stress management techniques, lifestyle changes, and coping strategies to address the underlying chronic anxiety2 8.
Conclusion
While panic and anxiety attacks share some similarities, they are distinct in their onset, symptoms, duration, and impact on daily life. Understanding these differences is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment, helping individuals manage their symptoms effectively and improve their quality of life.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
[Panic disorder and panic attack].
Panic disorder is a severe, often undiagnosed, anxiety disorder that significantly impairs patients' quality of life and social relationships.
Panic Attacks
Panic attacks are treatable mental disorders, and occupational health nurses can support employees and their families during and after attacks, addressing workplace challenges and promoting stress awareness.
[Panic attacks during sleep].
Night panic attacks are common in panic disorder patients, with up to 71% reporting episodes during sleep, and treatment methods vary based on the severity of the attacks and sleep disturbances.
The definition of panic attacks, Part I.
Panic attacks are distinct from non-panic anxiety episodes in having greater severity, more symptoms, shorter duration, and distinctive cognitive features.
Observational StudyPanic Attacks: Theoretical Models and Empirical Evidence
Panic attacks are states of intense anxiety with an abrupt onset. They are accompanied by predominantly somatic symptoms like palpitations, dyspnea, and paresthesias. In spite of Freud’s (1895a) early description of panic attacks (‘Angstanfalle’), psychiatry and psychology did not attach any special relevance to this form of anxiety until recently. With the introduction of the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-III, APA 1980), official psychiatric classification acknowledged panic attacks as important features in anxiety disorders. The next revision of DSM (DSM-III-R) will emphasize even more the role of panic attacks in the classification and etiology of anxiety disorders (Spitzer and Williams 1984, Spitzer 1985).
[Panic: attack and disorder. History of the word and concepts].
The history of the word panic, panic attack, and Panic Disorder is complex, with the Panic Disorder being a distinct psychiatric category characterized by frequent panic attacks and often associated with agoraphobia.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANXIETY DISORDER AND PANIC ATTACK TOWARD FINAL YEAR STUDENTS AT STIKES BULELENG
Anxiety disorder and panic attacks are linked to final-year students at STIKes Buleleng preparing their thesis.
Panic disorder: Description, conceptualization, and implications for treatment
Panic Disorder can be effectively treated by alleviating antecedent stresses, suppressing physiological responses, and training cognitive and behavioral coping skills.
[Stress, anxiety, panic. Panic attack and panic disorder. A new psychiatric concept].
The new psychiatric model (DSM III) emphasizes panic disorder and panic attacks, with behavioral and cognitive treatments being useful, and general anxiety disorder being a "residual category".
Somatic symptoms and panic attacks: a retrospective study of learning experiences.
Panic attack patients' childhood and adolescent experiences with physical anxiety symptoms may be influenced by their parents' experiences with anxiety and chronic illnesses.
Observational Study
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