Definition

Panic disorder is a condition in which a person feels sudden over-whelming fright, usually without any reasonable cause. A panic attack is generally accompanied by physical symptoms, such as a pounding heart, sweating, and rapid breathing. A person with panic disorder may have repeated panic attacks and feel constant fear as to when the next attack will occur.

Description

Most people experience moments of anxiety. They worry about money, their job, the future, or some other issue. But panic disorder is far more serious. It is a chronic (long-lasting), crippling condition that can have a devastating impact on a person's family, work, and social life. Panic disorder is thought to affect about one in every sixty Americans.

The first panic attack can strike a person anywhere. Suddenly, for no good reason, the person has a sense of impending doom. His or her palms begin to...