Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear and discomfort that may
include palpitations, sweating, chest pain or chest discomfort, shortness of
breath, trembling, dizziness, numbness, confusion, or a feeling of impending
doom or of losing control. Typically, symptoms reach a peak within ten minutes
of onset, and last for roughly 30 minutes, but the duration can vary from
seconds to hours. Although they can be extremely frightening and distressing,
panic attacks themselves are not physically dangerous.
The essential features of panic attacks remain unchanged, although the
complicated DSM-IV terminology for describing different types of panic attacks
(i.e.