Are panic attacks traumatic stressors?

McNally, R J; Lukach, B M · Am J Psychiatry · 1992

case_control · Level III

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Abstract

Like typical stressors that produce posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic attacks are sudden, unpredictable, and often perceived as life-threatening. Structured interviews with 30 subjects with panic disorder revealed that five (17%) and two (7%) met lifetime and current DSM-III-R PTSD criteria, respectively, following their most terrifying panic attack. PTSD produced by panic is less severe than PTSD produced by either rape or combat.

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