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    Panic disorder

    Also known as panic attacks, panic disorder with agoraphobia

    Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder with recurrent, unexpected panic attacks plus ongoing worry about future attacks or changes in behaviour to avoid them.[1] NIMH estimates 2.7% of US adults have it in a given year.[2] CBT is the main psychological treatment, and NICE says benzodiazepines should not be prescribed for it.[3][4]

    Editor reviewedStrict sourcingUpdated WikiMental health, Health and medicine
    Key facts

    Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder in which people have repeated, unexpected panic attacks and live with ongoing worry about the next one, often changing their behaviour to avoid it.[1] WHO lists it among the main anxiety disorders.[5]

    This page is general information, not medical advice. If you have panic attacks, talk to a clinician. The NHS warns that most panic symptoms can also be caused by other conditions, so new chest pain or breathlessness should be checked.[6]

    Panic attacks

    A panic attack is a sudden rush of intense fear with physical symptoms such as a racing heart, feeling faint, sweating, chest pain, shortness of breath and trembling.[1][6] NIMH says an attack can last from a few minutes to an hour or longer, and that attacks are not life-threatening.[7] The NHS says most last between 5 and 20 minutes and, although frightening, are not dangerous.[8]

    An isolated panic attack is not a mental disorder.[1] The NHS describes how fear of another attack can lead people to avoid situations, creating a cycle of living “in fear of fear”.[9]

    Who it affects

    NIMH estimates that 2.7% of US adults had panic disorder in the past year and 4.7% will have it at some point, based on survey data from 2001 to 2003; past-year prevalence was 3.8% in women and 1.6% in men.[2] Among those affected in the past year, 44.8% had serious impairment.[10] It often begins in the late teens or early adulthood.[11]

    Treatment

    NIMH says CBT is commonly used for panic disorder, including exposure therapy and interoceptive exposure, which brings on the bodily sensations of panic in a controlled way.[12] NICE recommends CBT totalling 7 to 14 hours, usually in weekly sessions completed within 4 months.[3] It also says the benefits of exercise should be discussed.[13] The 2018 CBT meta-analysis found smaller effects for panic disorder than for GAD or OCD.[14]

    NICE says benzodiazepines are associated with worse long-term outcomes and should not be prescribed for panic disorder.[4] The FDA warns that dependence on benzodiazepines can develop within days to weeks, even as prescribed.[15] If someone attends an emergency department with a panic attack, NICE says they should have the minimum tests needed to rule out physical problems and be referred to primary care for ongoing treatment.[16]

    See the anxiety treatments guide and cognitive-behavioral-therapy for more.

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    Questions readers ask

    What is the difference between a panic attack and panic disorder?

    NIMH says an isolated panic attack is not a mental disorder. Panic disorder may be diagnosed when someone has recurrent, unexpected attacks along with ongoing worry or behaviour changes because they fear more attacks.[1]

    Are panic attacks dangerous?

    NIMH and the NHS say panic attacks are frightening but not life-threatening or dangerous. The NHS says most last 5 to 20 minutes. The NHS warns that most panic symptoms can also be symptoms of other conditions, so new symptoms should be checked by a clinician.[7][8][6]

    How common is panic disorder?

    NIMH estimates 2.7% of US adults had panic disorder in the past year and 4.7% will have it at some point, based on survey data from 2001 to 2003. It is more common in women.[2][11]

    What is the treatment for panic disorder?

    NIMH says CBT is commonly used to treat panic disorder, including exposure-based techniques. NICE recommends 7 to 14 hours of CBT and advises against benzodiazepines for panic disorder.[12][3][4]

    Sources

    · 16 claims from 6 publishers

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Tap a number in the text to see its sources in place.

    1. [1]

      NIMH says a panic attack is a sudden wave of fear or discomfort without clear danger, that an isolated panic attack is not a mental disorder, and that panic disorder involves recurrent unexpected attacks plus ongoing worry or behaviour change because of fear of future attacks. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    2. [2]

      NIMH estimates that 2.7% of US adults had panic disorder in the past year and 4.7% experience it at some time in their lives, based on 2001-2003 survey data; past-year prevalence was 3.8% for females and 1.6% for males. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    3. [3]

      For panic disorder, NICE recommends CBT of 7 to 14 hours in total, usually weekly sessions of 1 to 2 hours completed within 4 months, delivered by trained and supervised therapists. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    4. [4]

      NICE says benzodiazepines are associated with a worse long-term outcome and should not be prescribed for panic disorder. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    5. [5]

      WHO lists several kinds of anxiety disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, separation anxiety disorder, specific phobias and selective mutism. confirmedas of 2026-09-15

    6. [6]

      The NHS lists panic attack symptoms including a racing heartbeat, feeling faint, sweating, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath and trembling, and warns that most of these can also be symptoms of other conditions. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

      • Panic disorder · NHS (nhs.uk) · Panic attacks (retrieved 2026-10-11)
      • Panic disorder · NHS (nhs.uk) · Panic attacks (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    7. [7]

      NIMH says a panic attack can last from a few minutes to an hour or longer and that panic attacks themselves are not life-threatening. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    8. [8]

      The NHS says most panic attacks last between 5 and 20 minutes and that, although frightening, they are not dangerous. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

      • Panic disorder · NHS (nhs.uk) · Panic attacks (retrieved 2026-10-11)
      • Panic disorder · NHS (nhs.uk) · Panic attacks (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    9. [9]

      The NHS says people with panic disorder may start avoiding situations they fear will trigger an attack, creating a cycle of living "in fear of fear". confirmedas of 2026-10-11

      • Panic disorder · NHS (nhs.uk) · Symptoms of panic disorder (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    10. [10]

      Among US adults with panic disorder in the past year, NIMH estimates 44.8% had serious impairment. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    11. [11]

      NIMH says panic disorder often begins in the late teens or early adulthood and is more common in women than men. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    12. [12]

      NIMH says CBT is commonly used to treat panic disorder, and that techniques include exposure therapy and interoceptive exposure, which exposes people to the bodily sensations associated with panic attacks. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    13. [13]

      NICE says the benefits of exercise as part of good general health should be discussed with people with panic disorder as appropriate. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    14. [14]

      A 2018 meta-analysis of 41 placebo-controlled trials (2,843 patients) found CBT had a moderate effect on anxiety-related disorders (Hedges' g 0.56), with large effects for OCD, GAD and acute stress disorder and small-to-moderate effects for PTSD, social anxiety and panic disorder. confirmedas of 2018-06-01

    15. [15]

      The FDA says physical dependence on benzodiazepines can develop when they are taken steadily for several days to weeks, even as prescribed, and that stopping abruptly or reducing the dose too quickly can cause withdrawal reactions including seizures. confirmedas of 2020-09-23

    16. [16]

      NICE says a person presenting at A&E with a panic attack should have the minimum investigations needed to exclude acute physical problems and be referred to primary care for ongoing care. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created.

    Created Oct 11, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 11, 2026. Next scheduled review: Apr 11, 2027.

    Cite this page

    "Panic disorder." ContentLora, updated Oct 11, 2026. https://contentlora.com/wiki/panic-disorder

    Spotted an error? Suggest a correction or emailcorrections@contentlora.com.

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    Cognitive behaviour… Treated withGeneralized anxiety… Related anxiety disorder
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