CHARACTERISTICS OF PANIC ATTACKS IN PATIENTS VISITING THE NEUROPSYCHIATRY DEPARTMENTS

Ánh Minh Phạm, Tích Linh Ngô, Trung Nghĩa Trần, Thị Minh Châu Phạm, Quốc Thọ Trương, Ngọc Phân Ái, Hoàng Thế Huy Lê, Thị Thu Sương Nguyễn, Thi Phú Nguyễn, Xuân Mạnh Bùi

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Abstract

Background: Panic attacks are a common phenomenon in patients with mental disorders, but studies on the characteristics of panic attacks in Vietnam remain limited. Research objective: To identify the characteristics of panic attacks in patients visiting the neuropsychiatry clinics at the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City and Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital. Research subjects and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 103 patients with panic attacks from March 2024 to July 2024. Results: The mean onset age was 38.1 ± 14.9 years, with females comprising 68.9% of the sample. The prevalence of comorbid mental disorders included anxiety disorders (55.3%), panic disorder (24.3%), major depressive disorder (21.4%), agoraphobia (6.8%), somatic symptom disorder (3.9%), bipolar disorder (3.9%), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (1.0%). Common symptoms included shortness of breath (90.3%), palpitations (86.4%), and a choking sensation (84.5%). Statistically significant differences were observed in patients with major depressive disorder (increased dry mouth, anger, sadness, and guilt); anxiety disorders (increased chest pain/discomfort, numbness/tingling, hot flashes/chills, cold extremities, and fear of "going crazy"); and panic disorder (increased fear of dying/serious illness, sadness, and guilt).

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References

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