Panic disorder subtypes: deceptive somatic impersonators

Traditional panic attacks are characterized by multiple somatic symptoms involving the cardiac, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and vestibular systems. However, on occasion, panic disorder symptoms may congeal into one predominant system. These atypical presentations, in which symptoms manifest in a single system, are described as panic disorder subtypes. Four subtypes are commonly reported: 1) cardiac, 2) respiratory, 3) gastrointestinal, and 4) vestibular. In this edition of The Interface, we discuss how these subtypes may mimic organic diseases, leading to under-recognition, under-treatment, and over-utilization of healthcare resources.