BY: STEPHANIE CLEMENTS & JANELLE VILLAGOMEZ

Panic Disorder with agoraphobia

Vignette

• “When Mandy gave birth to her second child, the birth was unexpectedly complicated, but the baby came home 3 weeks later.  One day, after her husband came home from work, Mandy raced down to the local supermarket alone, so she could quickly pick up a few items for dinner. That was when the first attack hit her. She couldn't breathe; her heart raced and felt like it would explode. Mandy's attacks continued to occur and Mandy quickly learned to avoid any situation where another attack could occur. Her daughter is now in school and Mandy is unable to take her there and relies on a friendly neighbor to take her daughter to school and back. Mandy seldom leaves the house and only in the company of her husband. Mandy has developed Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia.”

Definition

• An anxiety disorder with many repeated attacks of intense fear and anxiety.

• Agoraphobia is the fear of crowds, bridges, or of being outside alone.

Theories on development

• Genetic• Stressful life events• a chemical imbalance within the limbic

system and one of its regulatory chemicals GABA-A

• Stimulants (caffeine)

Treatment

• Cognitive behavioral therapy; helps understand behavior or thoughts

• Antidepressants • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.• Anti-anxiety

Facts

• Famous people with this disorder: Woody Allen, Freud, Clay Aiken, and Drew Barrymore

• more commonly seen in women• 1 in 113 have panic disorder with

agoraphobia

References

• "Famous People with Panic Disorder." Famous People With Panic Disorder. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. <http://www.panic-treatment.net/Panic-attacks-anxiety/2/famous-people-with-panic-disorder.html>.

• "Health Guide." Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. <http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/panic-disorder-with-agoraphobia/overview.html>.

• "Panic Disorder - Introduction, Statistics and Related Conditions." Panic Disorder. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. <http://www.panichub.com/panic-disorder.html>.

• "Panic Disorder: Case Studies (2)." Mental Health. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. <http://mental-health.families.com/blog/panic-disorder-case-studies-2>.

• "Panic Disorder." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 Apr. 2012. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_disorder>.