Panic Disorder is characterized by:

Panic Disorder is characterized by:

• A. Fear of specific objects only
• B. Chronic worry about future events
• C. Unpredictable, minutes-long episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms
• D. Obsessions and compulsions unrelated to fear

Answer: (C)

Panic attacks are abrupt, intense surges of fear that come on suddenly and last minutes, with physical symptoms such as a racing heart, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or nausea. When these attacks are unpredictable and recurrent, and the person begins to worry about having more attacks or alters behavior to avoid them, that pattern defines panic disorder. This stands in contrast to a phobia (fear of a specific object or situation), generalized anxiety (chronic worry about many things), or OCD (obsessions and compulsions). The description of unpredictable, minutes-long episodes of intense fear with accompanying physical symptoms best captures the hallmark features of panic disorder.

Panic attacks are abrupt, intense surges of fear that come on suddenly and last minutes, with physical symptoms such as a racing heart, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or nausea. When these attacks are unpredictable and recurrent, and the person begins to worry about having more attacks or alters behavior to avoid them, that pattern defines panic disorder. This stands in contrast to a phobia (fear of a specific object or situation), generalized anxiety (chronic worry about many things), or OCD (obsessions and compulsions). The description of unpredictable, minutes-long episodes of intense fear with accompanying physical symptoms best captures the hallmark features of panic disorder.