Stäubli M
Medizinische Klinik, Spital Neumünster, Zollikerberg.
Schweiz Med Wochenschr. 1993 Apr 24;123(16):800-6.
A panic attack is characterized by the abrupt onset of apprehension or fear, accompanied by symptoms such as dyspnea, palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, sweating, the feeling of going mad or the fear of dying. The feeling of anxiety often recedes into the background and such patients present to nonpsychiatric physicians with mainly somatic symptoms. The consequences of frequent panic attacks, named panic disorder, are agoraphobia with impairment of psychic and social functioning, increased prevalence of alcohol abuse, depression and, in particular, suicidal attempts. It is of the utmost importance that physicians recognize the somatic symptoms of panic anxiety and plan integrated treatment. The main therapeutic resources at present include antidepressants, selected benzodiazepines and behavioral treatments and are very successful in improving panic attacks and their consequences, which may long go undiagnosed.
惊恐发作的特点是突然出现忧虑或恐惧，并伴有呼吸困难、心悸、胸痛、头晕、出汗、发疯感或濒死恐惧等症状。焦虑感往往退居次要地位，此类患者主要带着躯体症状去看非精神科医生。频繁惊恐发作的后果即惊恐障碍，会导致场所恐惧症，损害心理和社会功能，增加酒精滥用、抑郁症尤其是自杀企图的发生率。医生认识到惊恐焦虑的躯体症状并规划综合治疗至关重要。目前主要的治疗手段包括抗抑郁药、某些苯二氮䓬类药物和行为疗法，这些方法在改善惊恐发作及其后果方面非常成功，而这些后果可能长期未被诊断出来。
