Panic disorder in general medical practice- A narrative review

• Published in: Journal of family medicine and primary care Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 861 - 869
• Main Authors: Manjunatha, Narayana, Ram, Dushad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.03.2022; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Cardiac patients; Care and treatment; clinical pathways; Coronary artery bypass; Diagnosis; Epidemiology; Evidence-based medicine; general medical practice; Medicine; Panic attacks; panic disorder; Panic disorders; Practice; Review; treatment; India; general medical practice; treatment; Clinical pathways; panic disorder
• DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_888_21
• ISSN: 2249-4863

The under-or misdiagnosis, and symptomatic treatment of the panic disorder (PD), despite high prevalent medical illness, is common among non-psychiatric physicians. The non-psychiatrist physician's role is vital in the care of PD as most patients initially approach general medical settings for medical help, including primary care. However, a significant proportion is undiagnosed and undergoes either unnecessary investigation, misdiagnosed, or mismanaged even among post-Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting patients, which profoundly affects the patients functioning and quality of life. This article aims to provide overviews of relevant epidemiological aspects, presenting features across medical specialties with respective diagnostic dilemmas, assessment, and management of the PD in their general medical settings, including emergency visits. Apart from psychiatrists, this will also assist non-psychiatrist physicians across all medical specialties, including general practitioners, to understand, identify, and provide the first line evidence-based pharmacotherapy and address the unmet need of patients with PD in their day-to-day busy clinical practice. This paper also provides a referral guide for non-psychiatrist physicians to refer to psychiatrists for further management after their first-line management.