home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
CD-ROM Today (UK) (Spanish) 15
/
CDRT.iso
/
dp
/
0408
/
04081.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-01-17
|
7KB
|
175 lines
$Unique_ID{BRK04081}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Panic-Anxiety Syndrome}
$Subject{Panic-Anxiety Syndrome Panic Disorder Anxiety State Anxiety Neurosis}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1986, 1988, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders,
Inc.
286:
Panic-Anxiety Syndrome
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible the main title of the article (Panic-Anxiety Syndrome) is
not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing to find the
alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Panic Disorder
Anxiety State
Anxiety Neurosis
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Panic-Anxiety Syndrome is a psychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent
and unpredictable anxiety attacks with no apparent cause for the symptoms,
such as threat of danger or attack.
Symptoms
The main feature of Panic-Anxiety Syndrome is the recurrence of panic
attacks. Psychological symptoms may include intense apprehension,
unreasonable fear of dying or impending doom, fear of becoming insane, or
dread of losing control of the self. Physical manifestations are generally
those commonly associated with panic or anxiety such as difficulty in
breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, trembling and faintness. In
addition, patients may experience chest pain, feelings of unreality, abnormal
sensations (burning or pricking), dizziness, or hot and cold flashes. The
symptoms usually become apparent in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Attacks, which can occur at any time, usually last only minutes, though in
rare cases they may last hours.
Complications may develop from the symptoms associated with the disorder.
Agoraphobia, the fear of being in public places, may result from the
patient's apprehensions about losing control. Between attacks patients
affected with Panic-Anxiety Syndrome can suffer from symptoms of nervousness,
caused by fear of future attacks; these symptoms include a tensing of the
muscles, increased blood pressure and heart rate. Patients may turn to abuse
of alcohol or anxiety relieving medications to alleviate their constant
nervousness. The result may be Depressive Disorders which can further
complicate treatment.
Causes
Panic-Anxiety Syndrome is believed to be caused by biochemical factors,
though the specific cause of the disorder is not yet known. The disorder is
possibly caused by excessive secretion of the neurohormone norepinephrine,
which stimulates the autonomic nervous system. Another possible cause is a
hypersensitivity to lactates (a substance which usually accumulates during
physical exertion). Also, studies with caffeine have suggested a link in
some cases between Panic-Anxiety Syndrome and abnormalities in the neural
systems involving adenosine (a chemical in the body related to caffeine).
Researchers have been able to trigger panic attacks in patients by exposing
them to carbon dioxide or other substances normally not found in the brain.
In 1988, researchers reported that a brain chemical known as cholecystokinin
(given to patients intravenously) could trigger panic attacks 20 seconds
after injection. It is not clear whether panic anxiety syndrome may be
caused by a surge in the natural level of cholecystokinin, or whether brains
of people with this disorder are abnormally sensitive to it.
Affected Population
Panic-Anxiety Syndrome tends to affect females more commonly than males.
Related Disorders
Different Phobias can cause physical symptoms similar to Panic-Anxiety
Syndrome, but they occur only in response to specific stimuli. Panic-Anxiety
Syndrome may be differentiated by the unpredictability of the anxiety
attacks.
Withdrawal from some drugs such as barbiturates and substance
intoxications (such as caffeine or amphetamines), may also produce symptoms
of Panic Disorder.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is symptomatized by chronic anxiety, like
that experienced between anxiety attacks in Panic-Anxiety Syndrome. Panic-
Anxiety Syndrome may be distinguished from Generalized Anxiety Disorder by
the recurrence of fits of panic.
Finally, patients with other mental disorders such as Schizophrenia,
Major Depression, or Somatization Disorder may experience symptoms of panic
attacks.
Therapies: Standard
Primarily, there are two drugs used to treat Panic-Anxiety Syndrome:
alprazolam and imipramine hydrochloride. Alprazolam acts as a tranquilizer
and reduces the patient's hypersensitivity to lactate. The therapeutic
efficacy of imipramine hydrochloride, on the other hand, has been linked to
its inhibitory effect on norepinephrine (a neurotransmitter associated with
anxiety or tension) turnover.
Therapies: Investigational
Research is ongoing into new therapies for the treatment of Panic-Anxiety
Syndrome.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
June 1988. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
current information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Panic-Anxiety Syndrome, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
Anxiety Disorders Association of America
6000 Executive Blvd., Suite 200
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 231-9350
Mental Health Association
1021 Prince St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
1901 N. Fort Meyer Dr., Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 524-7600
National Mental Health Consumer Self-Help Clearinghouse
311 S. Juniper St., Rm. 902
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 735-2481
NIH/National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20205
(301) 443-4515 or (301) 496-1752
(800) 421-4211 (24 hrs.)
References
DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS; 3rd ed.: Robert L.
Spitzer, et. al. eds; American Psychiatric Association, 1980. Pp. 230-2.
NEUROENDOCRINE CORRELATES OF LACTATE-INDUCED ANXIETY AND THEIR RESPONSE
TO CHRONIC ALPRAZOLAM THERAPY; D. B. Carr et al.: American Journal of
Psychiatry, April 1986; 143(4): Pp. 483-494.
NORADRENERGIC FUNCTION AND THE MECHANISM OF ACTION OF ANTIANXIETY
TREATMENT; D. S. Charney and G. R. Heninger: Archives of General Psychiatry,
May 1985, 42(5): Pp. 473-481.
INCREASED ANXIOGENIC EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE IN PANIC DISORDERS; D. S. Charney et
al.: Archives of General Psychiatry, March, 1985; 42(3): Pp. 233-243.