Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
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Causes of Panic disorder
The exact causes are unclear.
There does seem to be a connection with major life changes, for example going to college, getting married etc.
Studies have found that panic disorder tends to run in families. However, it is unknown whether this is due to genetic and/or environmental influence.
A biochemical cause is suggested, in which there are abnormalities in neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) that trigger an inappropriate response to danger.
It has also been suggested that the individual may have learned inappropriate responses to the physiological symptoms of anxiety. For example, interpreting normal feelings of anxiety as critical or disastrous.









