600,000 Thais Hit By Panic Disorder

[george]

600,000 hit by panic disorder

BANGKOK: -- More than 600,000 people across the country are now suffering from panic disorder, a study revealed yesterday.

Department of Mental Health deputy directorgeneral Dr Wachira Pengchan said his agency conducted a fiveyear survey - from 2003 to 2008 - to study people's mental health.

The survey of 20,000 people nationwide focussed on the rate of depression disorder and suicide.

This latest study shows that most people fear being in open or narrow spaces or in public. Many people do not know they are suffering from this disorder, caused by childhood experiences such as falling from high places, being left alone or being detained in a narrow space. They impress these felling and store it into their memory for a long time.

"They will suffer from these mental ailments for the rest of their life if they do not undergo treatment," he warns. "This will affect their daily lives."

Rise in suicides

A national mentalhealth survey found that the depression disorder trend has gradually decreased over the past five years, but suicides have increased, though by small numbers.

According to the survey, the North has the highest number of suicides. Eighty per cent of cases were because of chronic disease such as HIV/Aids infection, drug and alcohol addiction, stress, and acting without thinking.

The suicide attempt rate for women was higher than that of men, but the rate male suicides was higher, Wachira added.

-- The Nation 2009-06-22

[jumnien]

I know from personal experience that one can escape the prison of panic attacks. For me, the path to freedom included accepting an alcohol and drug free lifestyle, meeting a Thai monk in California and following his basic teachings (and ultimatley him back to Thailand twelve years ago), connecting deeply with like-minded new friends, and the adoption of a committed dedication to enjoy each day.

Unfortunately, the poor Thais that stumble into the mental health model will be offered a variety of tranquilizers, anti-depressants, and mood elevators and little else.

[cognos]

Its unfortunate..as a society we are only as good as we treat the unfortunates of the world. Panic disorder would be very unpleasant. I would argue everyone has some sort of disorder..You may even ask yourself.."Why do a few people still laugh at a "retarded" person (wrong term) but the same ones don't laugh at a deaf or blind person?"

[sriracha john]

This latest study shows that most people fear being in open or narrow spaces or in public. Many people do not know they are suffering from this disorder, caused by childhood experiences such as falling from high places, being left alone or being detained in a narrow space. They impress these felling and store it into their memory for a long time.

"They will suffer from these mental ailments for the rest of their life if they do not undergo treatment," he warns. "This will affect their daily lives."

A national mentalhealth survey found that the depression disorder trend has gradually decreased over the past five years, but suicides have increased, though by small numbers.

According to the survey, the North has the highest number of suicides. Eighty per cent of cases were because of chronic disease such as HIV/Aids infection, drug and alcohol addiction, stress, and acting without thinking.

The suicide attempt rate for women was higher than that of men, but the rate male suicides was higher, Wachira added.

For a much more accurate and complete discussion as to what constitutes Panic Disorder, referring to the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual (ver. IV) is necessary:

Diagnostic Criteria for DSM IV Panic Disorder

A. Both 1. and 2.

1. recurrent unexpected Panic Attacks

2. at least one of the attacks has been followed by 1 month (or more) of one (or more) of the following:

a. persistent concern about having additional attacks

b. worry about the implications of the attack or its consequences (e.g., losing control, having a heart attack, "going crazy")

c. a significant change in behavior related to the attacks

B. The Panic Attacks are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).

C. The Panic Attacks are not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as Social Phobia (e.g., occurring on exposure to feared social situations), Specific Phobia (e.g., on exposure to a specific phobic situation), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (e.g., on exposure to dirt in someone with an obsession about contamination), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (e.g., in response to stimuli associated with a severe stressor), or Separation Anxiety Disorder (e.g., in response to being away from home or close relatives).

DSM IV Criteria for Panic Attack

A discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, in which four (or more) of the following symptoms developed abruptly and reached a peak within 10 minutes:

1. palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate

2. sweating

3. trembling or shaking

4. sensations of shortness of breath or smothering

5. feeling of choking

6. chest pain or discomfort

7. nausea or abdominal distress

8. feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint

9. derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)

10. fear of losing control or going crazy

11. fear of dying

12. paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations)

13. chills or hot flushes

Panic Disorder is divided into with or without agoraphobia

DSM IV Criteria for Agoraphobia

A. anxiety about being in places or situations from which escape might be difficult (or embarrassing) or in which help may not be available in the event of having an unexpected or situationally predisposed Panic Attack or panic-like symptoms. Agoraphobic fears typically involve characteristic clusters of situations that include being outside the home alone; being in a crowd, or standing in a line; being on a bridge; and traveling in a bus, train, or automobile.

B. The situations are avoided (e.g., travel is restricted) or else are endured with marked distress or with anxiety about having a Panic Attack or panic-like symptoms, or require the presence of a companion.

C. The anxiety or phobic avoidance is not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as Social Phobia (e.g., avoidance limited to social situations because of fear of embarrassment), Specific Phobia (e.g., avoidance limited to a single situation like elevators), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (e.g., avoidance of dirt in someone with an obsession about contamination), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (e.g., avoidance of stimuli associated with a severe stressor), or Separation Anxiety Disorder (e.g., avoidance of leaving home or relatives).

Edited June 22, 2009 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

-- More than 600,000 people across the country are now suffering from panic disorder, a study revealed yesterday.

That's about half the occurrence rate (or 0.09%) for the Thai population as compared to the American population and therefore quite a suspect figure from the Thai authorities as most mental illnesses have almost identical occurrence rates across cultural and socio-economic boundaries whenever they are accurately assessed.

It is estimated that up to 1.7 percent of the adult American population has panic disorder at some point in their lives.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/panicfacts.cfm

Edited June 22, 2009 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

The suicide attempt rate for women was higher than that of men

Regarding this specific disorder, women are also twice as likely as men to develop it...

As in many other mental disorders, the use of twin studies points to family genes as an extremely important part...

Genetics and Demographics.

Genetics also plays a pivotal role in the development of panic disorder. Twin studies have demonstrated that there is a higher concordance in identical versus fraternal twins thus supporting the idea that panic disorders are inherited. Family studies have also demonstrated that panic attacks run in families. Relatives of patients with panic disorder are four to 10 times more likely to develop panic disorder. People who develop early onset of panic attacks in their mid-20s are more likely to have relatives who have panic disorder. When relatives of patients with panic disorder are exposed to high levels of carbon dioxide, they have panic attacks. Current efforts to identify a gene for panic disorder have not been successful.

The symptoms usually begin when the person is in his or her early to mid-twenties. Women are twice as likely as men to develop panic attacks regardless of age.

http://www.minddisorders.com/Ob-Ps/Panic-disorder.html

[ivowatson]

-- More than 600,000 people across the country are now suffering from panic disorder, a study revealed yesterday.

That's about half the occurrence rate (or 0.09%) for the Thai population as compared to the American population and therefore quite a suspect figure from the Thai authorities as most mental illnesses have almost identical occurrence rates across cultural and socio-economic boundaries whenever they are accurately assessed.

If I'm not mistaken, it's rather 0.9% which then would mean double the occurrence rate from the States. Quite remarkable as I suspect Thai authorities to underestimate things like this.

[MJP]

600,000 hit by panic disorder

BANGKOK: -- More than 600,000 people across the country are now suffering from panic disorder, a study revealed yesterday.

Department of Mental Health deputy directorgeneral Dr Wachira Pengchan said his agency conducted a fiveyear survey - from 2003 to 2008 - to study people's mental health.

The survey of 20,000 people nationwide focussed on the rate of depression disorder and suicide.

This latest study shows that most people fear being in open or narrow spaces or in public. Many people do not know they are suffering from this disorder, caused by childhood experiences such as falling from high places, being left alone or being detained in a narrow space. They impress these felling and store it into their memory for a long time.

"They will suffer from these mental ailments for the rest of their life if they do not undergo treatment," he warns. "This will affect their daily lives."

Rise in suicides

A national mentalhealth survey found that the depression disorder trend has gradually decreased over the past five years, but suicides have increased, though by small numbers.

According to the survey, the North has the highest number of suicides. Eighty per cent of cases were because of chronic disease such as HIV/Aids infection, drug and alcohol addiction, stress, and acting without thinking.

The suicide attempt rate for women was higher than that of men, but the rate male suicides was higher, Wachira added.

-- The Nation 2009-06-22

Whaaattt?!!

[TAWP]

Omg, sh*t, help me, I hope I am not affected!

[sriracha john]

Calm down, TAWP... whatever you do... Don't Panic !

[MJP]

Calm down, TAWP... whatever you do... Don't Panic !

. . . or 'act without thinking'.

[12DrinkMore]

Many people do not know they are suffering from this disorder,

In that case better not tell them, otherwise we'll have a massive outbreak of hypochondria.

Ignorance is bliss.