Symptoms used to diagnose
The ruleRecurrent unexpected panic attacks, followed by at least 1 month of worry about more attacks or changing behaviour to avoid them. An attack involves 4+ of the symptoms below peaking within minutes.
Symptoms
- Pounding or racing heart
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Shortness of breath or smothering
- Choking feeling
- Chest pain
- Nausea
- Dizziness or faintness
- Chills or heat
- Numbness or tingling
- Feeling unreal or detached
- Fear of losing control
- Fear of dying
How diagnosis works
- Recurrent unexpected panic attacks — sudden surges of intense fear with physical symptoms (racing heart, breathlessness, dizziness, fear of dying).
- At least 1 month of worry about further attacks or changing behaviour to avoid them.
- Agoraphobia (fear of situations where escape is hard) is diagnosed separately.
A diagnosis is made by a qualified clinician after a full assessment — this summary is to help you understand it, not to self-diagnose.
Commonly used medications
Therapies & support
- CBT with exposure
- Guided self-help
Sources
- 01Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR)
American Psychiatric Association, 2022
- 02ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics — Chapter 6: Mental, behavioural or neurodevelopmental disorders
World Health Organization, 2022
- 03The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines
Horowitz & Taylor, Wiley-Blackwell, 2024