Via practica 1/2020

Panic disorder

Panic disorder is a mental disorder with high incidence, limiting the quality of life. The physical manifestations of sudden anxiety are often interpreted by the patients as a possible physical illness. Patients often receive many examinations and unsuccessful treatment by general practitioners and other specialists. The average time from onset of complaints until patients receive adequate treatment is 10 years. The article recapitulates clinical manifestations of the disorder, how to proceed in the examination of a patient with panic disorder and an overview of new therapeutic strategies in the field of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.

Keywords: anxiety, panic attack, crisis intervention, SSRIs, cognitive behavioral psychotherapy