Differential diagnosis and treatment of panic attacks and phobic states.

Recent advances in our understanding of and ability to treat panic disorders and various types of phobia have been reviewed. A case of agoraphobia was presented in detail to illustrate clinical issues and serve as a basis for discussing differential diagnosis. The presence or absence of spontaneous panic attacks has crucial implications for classifying phobic states. Data and speculations concerning the pathophysiology of agoraphobia, social phobia and simple phobia were also presented. Finally, a variety of pharmacological and behavioral treatment approaches, some solidly established, other still investigational, were discussed.