Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. It causes repeated panic attacks, which are sudden periods of intense fear, discomfort, or a sense of losing control. These attacks happen even though there is no real danger. They often cause physical symptoms. For example, you may have a rapid or pounding heartbeat and feel like you are having a heart attack.
If you have panic attacks, it doesn't mean you will develop a panic disorder. Many people only have one or two panic attacks in their lifetime and get better without treatment.
But some of the people who have panic attacks do develop panic disorder. They have repeated panic attacks. The attacks can happen as often as several times a day or as rarely as a few times a year. People with panic disorder often worry about having another attack. It may cause them to avoid places and situations where they had panic attacks in the past.
Panic disorder is not life-threatening, but it can be upsetting and affect your quality of life. And if it is not treated, it can sometimes lead to other health conditions, including depression and substance use disorders.
The cause of panic disorder is unknown. Researchers think that certain factors may play a role:
- Genetics - panic disorder sometimes runs in families. But no one knows for sure why some family members have it while others don't.
- Brain biology and chemistry.
- Your environment.
- Major stress.
Panic disorder is more common in women than men. It often starts in the late teens or early adulthood. Sometimes it starts when a person is under a lot of stress. People who have had trauma, especially in childhood, are more likely to develop panic disorder.
People with panic disorder may have:
- Sudden and repeated panic attacks of overwhelming anxiety and fear
- A feeling of being out of control or a fear of death during a panic attack
- An intense worry about another panic attack
- A fear or avoidance of places and situations where they had panic attacks in the past
- Physical symptoms during a panic attack, such as: Pounding or racing heart
- Sweating or chills
- Trembling or shaking
- Trouble breathing
- The feeling that they are choking
- Weakness or dizziness
- Chest pain
- Stomach pain or nausea
Panic attacks can happen anytime, without warning. They can last anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour.
To find out if you have panic disorder, your health care provider:
- Will ask about your medical history and symptoms
- May check if an unrelated physical problem is causing your symptoms, for example with: A physical exam
- Blood tests to check for thyroid problems and other possible conditions
- Heart health tests
Treatment for panic disorder usually includes one or more of the following:
- Talk therapy, also called psychotherapy or counseling, which can help you understand your feelings. It may include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of talk therapy that helps you change your negative thoughts and how you react to things that cause you to feel anxiety.
- Antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Anti-anxiety medicines
Your provider may also suggest that you follow a healthy lifestyle, which may help with panic disorder. It may include:
- Avoiding alcohol
- Reducing caffeine
- Eating regular meals
- Getting enough sleep
- Getting regular exercise
Joining a support group may also be helpful. Support groups can make you feel like you are not alone, and you may learn some new tips on how to cope.
It sits within Mental Health and Behavior.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Mental Health.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Panic Disorder
286 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- Comparative Effectiveness of Internet-based Versus Parent-Coached Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy For Children and Adolescents With Anxiety and OCDBaylor College of Medicine
- Mindful Self-Compassion for Anxiety Disorders and DepressionGeorgetown University
- Evaluation of the Genetics of Bipolar DisorderNational Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Effects and Cost-effectiveness of e-Meistring - a Guided Internet-delivered Psychological TreatmentSt. Olavs Hospital
- Non-Coding RNAs Gene Expression in Psychiatric DisordersCarmen Concerto
- Serotonin Variants & Gut Microbiota in Mental HealthNeurobiologix
Research already completed
- Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With Panic Control Treatment for Adolescents With Panic DisorderBoston University Charles River Campus
- Effectiveness of Intensive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Treating Adolescent Panic Disorder and AgoraphobiaBoston University Charles River Campus
- α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase Levels in Panic DisorderElazığ Mental Health and Diseases Hospital
- Investigation of Pathogenic Gut Microbiota Patterns in Anxiety, Depression and Panic DisordersUniversity of Toronto
- A Pragmatic Trial of Brief CBT for Anxiety in VA Primary CareVA Office of Research and Development
- Using CalmiGo to Manage Anxiety and Panic Attack Symptoms in the Emergency DepartmentYves Duroseau
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- Panic Attacks and Panic DisorderMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Panic Disorder and Panic AttacksAmerican Academy of Family Physicians
- Panic Disorder: When Fear OverwhelmsNational Institute of Mental Health
Diagnosis and Tests
- Panic Disorder TestNational Library of Medicine
Treatments and Therapies
- Mental Health MedicationsNational Institute of Mental Health
- PsychotherapiesNational Institute of Mental Health
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Panic DisorderNational Institutes of Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Panic Disorder. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Panic Disorder, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.