How long can a panic attack last
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Duration of Panic Attacks: Insights from Research
Typical Duration of Panic Attacks
Panic attacks are characterized by a sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort that peaks rapidly. According to research, the duration of a panic attack is typically very short. Ambulatory respiratory monitoring has shown that panic attacks generally last between four and six minutes 1. Despite this, patients often report feeling distressed for much longer periods, sometimes erroneously believing that the panic attack lasted for hours 1.
Perception vs. Reality
The discrepancy between the actual duration of a panic attack and the perceived duration is a common phenomenon. While the physiological symptoms such as dyspnea and palpitations usually subside within 10 minutes, the emotional and psychological distress can linger, leading patients to feel as though the attack lasted much longer 1. This misperception can contribute to the overall anxiety and fear associated with panic disorder.
Nocturnal Panic Attacks
Another important aspect of panic disorder is the occurrence of nocturnal panic attacks, which can wake individuals from sleep and are often perceived as particularly distressing. These attacks follow the same pattern of rapid onset and short duration but can significantly disrupt sleep and contribute to ongoing anxiety 1.
Long-Term Course and Recovery
While panic attacks are typically brief, the long-term course of panic disorder can vary. A study following patients over 11 years found that a significant number of individuals experienced periods of remission. At the end of the follow-up period, 66.7% of patients had no panic attacks in the year prior, and 33% were completely remitted 4. This suggests that while panic attacks are acute episodes, the disorder itself can have a fluctuating course with potential for long-term recovery.
Conclusion
In summary, panic attacks are short-lived episodes, generally lasting between four and six minutes. However, the distress they cause can make them feel much longer to those experiencing them. Understanding the typical duration and the potential for long-term recovery can help in managing expectations and treatment strategies for individuals with panic disorder.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Recognising panic disorder
Panic attacks typically last between four and six minutes and often occur at night.
Prevention of panic disorder
A 1-day prevention workshop significantly reduced the likelihood of developing panic disorder and improved panic attacks and social avoidance compared to a wait-list control group.
RCT
Highly CitedA 1-year prospective study of panic attacks: clinical course and factors associated with maintenance.
Panic attacks are largely maintained by heartbeat perception, anxiety sensitivity, and avoidance, with infrequent panickers being more likely to develop panic disorder.
Observational StudyHighly CitedThe long-term course of panic disorder--an 11 year follow-up.
Panic disorder can be managed effectively over 11 years, with a good chance of recovery from attacks and disabilities, and full remission being possible.
Observational StudyThe occurrence of a prodrome of generalized anxiety in panic disorder.
A prodrome of generalized anxiety symptoms can occur in panic disorder patients, contributing to the heterogeneity of generalized anxiety disorder.
Observational StudyA 48-year-old woman with panic attacks
A 48-year-old woman with panic attacks was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism after a history of ankle fracture and recent stress factors.
Case Report[Paroxysmal neurological manifestations disclosing panic attacks].
Paroxysmal neurological manifestations, such as loss of consciousness, focal sensorimotor deficits, and visual disorders, are often associated with panic attacks and may be induced by challenge tests.
Case ReportLong-term outcome of panic disorder after short-term imipramine and behavioral group treatment: 2.9-year naturalistic follow-up study.
Short-term imipramine and behavioral therapy effectively reduces panic attack frequency and anxiety after 1 to 5 years, even for patients who reduce or discontinue imipramine.
Non-RCTDo Unexpected Panic Attacks Occur Spontaneously?
Significant autonomic irregularities can precede the onset of unexpected panic attacks, challenging the current distinction between uncued and cued attacks.
Observational Study
Rigorous JournalHighly Cited