Panic disorder

Panic disorder is a condition involving recurrent, unexpected panic attacks along with persistent worry about having more or changes in behavior to avoid them. The fear of the next attack becomes its own problem.

Definition from Shrinktionary, reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA (last reviewed 2026-06-26). Shrinktionary is the network's language layer and carries the canonical short definition; this page adds the research-context detail below. Full definition on Shrinktionary →

A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear with strong physical symptoms, such as a pounding heart, shortness of breath, chest tightness, dizziness, and a sense of dread. In panic disorder, the attacks recur, and the person starts to fear the attacks themselves. That fear can lead to avoiding places or situations linked to past attacks, which can develop into agoraphobia.

Panic disorder is a common reason people end up in emergency rooms, because the physical symptoms can feel like a heart problem. Research on panic focuses on treatments that reduce how often and how hard the attacks hit, mainly CBT with interoceptive exposure, and SSRIs.

A person has several panic attacks with no clear trigger, then begins avoiding the grocery store where one attack happened, for fear it will happen again.

New panic-like symptoms should be evaluated, not assumed to be anxiety, especially the first time. Cardiac problems, thyroid conditions, and the effects of caffeine, stimulants, or alcohol withdrawal can mimic panic. A medical check helps rule those out before settling on a panic disorder explanation.