A 26-year-old woman experiences intense fear with trembling, tachycardia, and a sense of losing control, but ONLY when she must give a formal presentation at work. She has never had such an episode at rest, during sleep, or in any other setting. These episodes are best classified as which type of panic attack?

• A Unexpected (uncued) panic attacks
• B Expected (cued) panic attacks ✓
• C Nocturnal panic attacks
• D Situationally predisposed panic attacks

Explanation

Expected or cued panic attacks occur invariably and immediately on exposure to a feared stimulus, here public speaking, and point toward a specific phobia or social anxiety disorder rather than panic disorder. Unexpected attacks occur without any obvious trigger and are required for the diagnosis of panic disorder. Situationally predisposed attacks occur sometimes, but not always, on exposure to a cue, which distinguishes them from the invariant pattern described.

Reference: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-5, 5th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.