What causes panic attacks and panic disorder?

Factors that increase the risk of developing panic attacks and panic disorders include:

• Family history
• Major stress
• Traumatic experience.

Following the first attack, people with panic disorder start to pay more attention to their physical symptoms. They often start to become afraid of their own physical reactions. Once this happens, any change that produces a similar physical reaction such as exercise, strong emotion or even a change in the temperature, can trigger a panic attack.

Download our panic attacks factsheet.