How long does panic attack last
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Duration of Panic Attacks: Insights from Research
Understanding Panic Attack Duration
Panic attacks are characterized by a sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort that peaks rapidly. According to research, the duration of a typical panic attack is relatively short. Studies have shown that the acute phase of a panic attack, where symptoms like dyspnea and palpitations are most intense, usually lasts less than 10 minutes1. Ambulatory respiratory monitoring has further pinpointed the duration to be between four and six minutes1.
Perception vs. Reality
Despite the brief duration of the acute symptoms, individuals often report feeling distressed for much longer periods. This discrepancy is due to the overwhelming nature of the experience, which can make it feel as though the panic attack lasted for hours1. This misperception is common among patients and can lead to increased anxiety and a heightened sense of vulnerability.
Clinical Implications
The short duration of panic attacks has significant implications for treatment and management. Early intervention strategies, such as exposure instruction, have been shown to be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of panic attacks over time9. These interventions can help patients better understand and manage their symptoms, reducing the long-term impact of panic disorder.
Conclusion
In summary, while the acute phase of a panic attack typically lasts between four and six minutes, the perceived duration can be much longer due to the intense distress experienced. Understanding the actual duration of panic attacks can help in developing effective treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.
Sources and full results
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 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 StudyA 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 CitedA 1-year prospective study of panic attacks: clinical course and factors associated with maintenance.
Panic attacks are more likely to relapse in patients with anxiety sensitivity and avoidance, with heartbeat perception and anxiety sensitivity being key factors in maintaining attacks.
Highly CitedThe 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 StudyBehavioral treatment of panic disorder: A two-year follow-up
Interoceptive exposure therapy plus cognitive restructuring effectively controls panic attacks and maintains recovery over a two-year follow-up period compared to relaxation training.
Non-RCTHighly CitedA 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 ReportBrief treatment of emergency room patients with panic attacks.
Early intervention with exposure instruction significantly improves depression, avoidance, and panic frequency in emergency room patients with panic attacks, while reassurance does not show any improvement.
RCTHighly CitedLong-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-RCT