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Panic Disorders
(PS008)

Introduction

A panic attack is a discrete period of intense fear of discomfort accompanied by a number of defined symptoms (see below). Some persons experience only one attack in their lives and never experience another. However, persons who have recurrent attacks are said to have panic disorder (PD) and can experience significant disability if untreated.

PD is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 4th edition (DSM-IV) as recurrent panic attacks presenting in conjunction with persistent concern over additional episodes, worry over the significance or consequences of the attacks, and/or a notable change in related behavior experienced for one month (or longer) following at least one of the attacks.

PD affects between 3 and 6 million Americans. It affects women twice as commonly as men, and can occur at any age but most often begins in young adults.

During the past 2 decades, there have been significant advances in the treatment of PD, and a range of therapeutic choices is now available. Anxiety disorders are generally treated by a combination approach utilizing both medication and behavioral therapy.

MediFocus Guides... When You Need Trustworthy Medical Information

The Medifocus Guide on Panic Disorder provides answers to the following important questions and medical issues:


What Your Doctor Reads:

This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:


MediFocus Guides... When You Need Trustworthy Medical Information

MediFocus.com understands that consumers who are facing serious medical issues need access to credible, up-to-date medical information to help them make informed health-care decisions. That's why we've developed the MediFocus Guides...the most advanced and trustworthy patient research guides for over 200 chronic and life-threatening conditions. Each MediFocus Guide includes a detailed overview of the condition including information about diagnosis, treatment options, cutting-edge research, and new developments; excerpts of important journal articles from the current medical literature focusing on standard treatments and treatment options; a directory of leading authors and medical institutions who specialize in the treatment of the condition; and a listing of organizations and support groups where you can obtain additional information about the illness.

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