The question was
what are the features of a panic attack?
According to p. 214 of the DSM-5 a panic attack is described as “an abrupt surge of
intense fear or intense discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes, and
during which time four (or more) of the following symptoms occur:
- Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate.
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking.
- Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering.
- Feelings of choking
- Chest pain or discomfort.
- Nausea or abdominal distress.
- Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed, or faint.
- Chills or heat sensations.
- Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations).
- Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization.
- Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
- Fear of dying
The DSM-5 is TheDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition) and was put out
by the American Psychiatric Association in 2013.
