subject: The Importance of Accurate Diagnosis Panic Attack [print this page] Author: Safaer Author: Safaer
The price exacted by panic disorder is enormous, both for the individual and for society. For the individual sufferer who cannot leave the house to go to work or perform essential daily activities, the cost cannot be calculated in dollars and cents but can only be measured in terms of a shattered, isolated life. Many people with panic disorder are financially dependent, and a high proportion suffer from other psychiatric conditions, most notably major depression, which affects up to 65% of panic disorder patients. People with panic disorder have higher rates of alcohol and drug abuse than people without anxiety disorders. In addition to the inestimable human cost, there is also the financial cost in terms of misused medical services. Many undiagnosed panic disorder sufferers feel they are having a heart attack. The cost of angiograms performed to rule out heart disease in panic sufferers has been estimated to exceed $63 million each year Unnecessary emergency room visits are another price associated with undiagnosed or misdiagnosed panic disorder. Patients with panic disorder often consult as many as 10 different health care professionals before receiving the correct diagnosis.One study in Spain has estimated health care costs in the year prior to the correct diagnosis of panic disorder to average $99,000 per patient, with indirect costs attributable to lost productivity averaging $166,000 per patient The Importance of Accurate Diagnosis Diagnosing panic disorder in an individual patient may be difficult. It is important to understand that ruling out serious physical ailments such as heart disease or asthma is an essential part of the process. Familiarity with the identifying characteristics of panic disorder should help primary care physicians and specialists such as emergency physicians, cardiologists, and gynecologists to identify panic disorder patients. For patients, education should help to reduce the impact of the disorder, as well as help them find appropriate treatment.About the Author:
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