What are the symptoms of a panic attack?

Panic attack is the feeling of sudden, intense fear and anxiety attacks that appear at regular intervals, lasting over time, accompanying some somatic and cognitive symptoms without any visible or explanatory cause. You should have experienced at least two panic attacks in a month and suffer from strong fear and anxiety about the future potential new attack. Below you can see what symptoms may be present during an attack.

The specifics of a panic attack

NOTE: The symptoms are described for the purpose of identifying the presence of a panic attack; however, a panic attack is not a diagnosed form of mental illness per se and therefore cannot be coded. Panic attacks can occur in all anxiety disorders as well as in other forms of mental illness (e.g. depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorder) and in some medical conditions (e.g. heart disease, lung and respiratory diseases, inner ear diseases, gastrointestinal diseases). If the presence of panic attacks is recognised, it should be indicated as a specification to the diagnosis in question (e.g. 'post-traumatic stress disorder, with panic attacks'). In the case of panic disorder, this is not done, as the presence of panic attacks is a prerequisite for the diagnosis.

A sudden wave of intense fear or intense discomfort that peaks within minutes. At least four of the following symptoms are present during the attack:

NOTE: The sudden onset attack may occur regardless of whether the person feels calm or anxious beforehand.

1. Palpitations, pounding heart or rapid pulse

2. Sweating

3. Trembling or shaking

4. Feeling of breathlessness

5. Feeling of suffocation

6. Pain or discomfort in the chest.

7. Nausea or discomfort in the stomach.

8. Dizziness, feeling unsteady or faint.

9. Chills or hot flushes

10. Paresthesias (numbness or tingling)

11. Derealisation (feeling of unreality) or depersonalisation (feeling like a stranger to oneself)

12. Fear of losing control or 'going mad

13. Fear of death

NOTE: Culture-specific symptoms (e.g. tinnitus, neck pain, headache, crying or screaming) may occur. Such symptoms should not be included in the four symptoms required for diagnosis.

MINI-D 5 Diagnostic criteria according to DSM-5, translation Jörgen Herlofson Pilgrim Press AB Stockholm, 2015.

Hasan Durna