Abstract
Panic disorder (PD), is characterized by repeated PAs (i.e. abrupt surges of anxiety and fear accompanied by physical - e.g. pounding heart, sweating, trembling, etc. - and cognitive - e.g. fear of dying, fear of losing control, etc. - symptoms that usually reach their peak within 10 min), and major changes in behavior or persistent anxiety over having further attacks for at least 1 month. Since PD can be treated with psychotropic drugs and/or psychotherapy it has been commonly considered a mental disorder. However, recent evidence indicates that patients with PD exhibit subclinical anomalies in the respiratory, cardiac, and balance systems. In addition, apart from reducing panic symptoms, many antipanic pharmacotherapies (e.g. SSRIs) improve the functioning of the abovementioned systems. Therefore, some authors believe PAs may be real alarms arising from transient instability of homeostatic body functions. The idea PD is a mere psychiatric disease may be challenged by acknowledging a paramount role also to aberrant homeostatic functioning. This might pave the way to a more integrated approach of treating PD.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Panic Disorder: Neurobiological and Treatment Aspects |
Editors | Antonio Egidio Nardi, Rafael Christophe R. Freire |
Publisher | Springer International Publishing |
Pages | 93-112 |
Number of pages | 20 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9783319125381 |
ISBN (Print) | 9783319125374 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2016 |
Keywords
- Balance
- Cardiac system
- Homeostasis
- Panic disorder
- Photosensitivity
- Respiration
- Vision