Every few days, with little or no warning, Jake is overwhelmed by intense fear, shortness of breath, a pounding heart, and heavy sweating. He often feels like he is suffocating, having a heart attack, or going crazy. He can never identify a reason for having these attacks, but they leave him worried and exhausted. His attacks are best described as ______.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Jake's symptoms are classic signs of a panic attack, which is the primary characteristic of panic disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive and persistent worrying about a variety of everyday problems rather than sudden attacks. A phobia is an irrational fear of a specific object or situation, and acute stress disorder is characterized by anxiety and dissociative symptoms following a traumatic event.

Every Few Days, with Little or No Warning, Jake Is