Term Paper on "Panic Disorder Current Research"

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Concerning the etiology of panic disorder there is a recurrent theme in the recent literature denoting that it may be multicausal or singularly caused and that a complete understanding of the occurrence of the disorder is not available.

There are several theories regarding the causes of panic disorder, none of which appear to fully explain why it occurs (Jacobs & Nadel, 1999). Some think there is a purely biological explanation, while others posit that panic disorder is a learned behavioral response to stressful situations (Barlow, Brown, & Craske, 1994; Jacobs & Nadel). A third perspective suggests that initial panic attacks are based on the body's natural fear reaction occurring at an inappropriate time. Following this initial attack a small percentage of individuals develop anxiety based on fear of further attacks (Barlow et al.). (Whalen & Mckinney, 2007, p.12)

Regardless of a complete understanding of the disease it is known that gender is the only serious and persistent factor for prevalence as many more women than men are diagnosed with the disorder and this prevalence increases with age. (Whalen & Mckinney, 2007, p.12) Currently it is noted that 3.5% of the U.S. population suffers from the disorder, although as many as 14% of the U.S. population experience panic attacks, though not all warrant a diagnosis of panic disorder (Whalen & Mckinney, 2007, p.12)

Panic disorders in children is also a new filed of study, that has recently gained a great deal of attention, as recent research has pointed to the idea that children with anxiety disorders, panic disorder included share certain characteristics, "children with anxiety disorders have dysfunctional cognitions about ambiguous situations." (Bogels & Zigterman, 2000, p. 205)

Anxious and oppositional children were found to interpret ambiguous situations as more threatening than normal children, oppositional children even more so than anxious children. Anxious children, however, more often chose avoidant solutions, whereas oppositional children more often chose aggressive solutions. (Bogels & Zigterman, 2000, p. 205)

The research indicates that children with panic disorder are responding inappropriately to ambiguous stimuli, i.e. stimuli that is not a part of their idea of normal or is unknown to them.

One study sighted through research findings that, "sexual dysfunctions are frequent and neglected complications of social phobia and panic disorder." (Figueira, Possidente, Marques & Hayes, 2001, p. 369) Still another study, on panic disorder attempted to demonstrate through research that alcohol abuse is a high risk and frequent behavior exhibited by those who suffer from panic disorder, and needs to be looked at to help avoid further… READ MORE