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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat

Published on: September 12, 2014

Panic attacks in generalized anxiety disorder.

Michael Van Ameringen¹, William Simpson, Beth Patterson

¹Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. vanamer@mcmaster.ca

The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

|January 1, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

One in five patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) experience panic attacks linked to catastrophic worry. These GAD panic attacks were more common in individuals with higher anxiety sensitivity, though other factors showed no significant differences.

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Published on: July 19, 2017

Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Clinical Psychology
Anxiety Disorders Research

Background:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is often associated with worry.
Panic attacks can occur in GAD patients, particularly in response to catastrophic worry.
The specific characteristics and prevalence of GAD-related panic attacks are not well-defined in existing literature.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the prevalence of panic attacks in patients diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
To characterize the types of panic attacks experienced by GAD patients.
To explore potential correlates of GAD panic attacks, including comorbidities, symptom severity, demographics, and family history.

Main Methods:

Retrospective chart evaluation of 254 patients diagnosed with DSM-IV Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Assessment of the presence and specific types of panic attacks experienced by patients.
Analysis of demographic variables, family history, baseline symptom severity, and comorbidity as potential correlates.

Main Results:

Approximately 21% of patients with GAD reported experiencing GAD panic attacks.
The study identified varying percentages for different panic attack types: 21.7% situationally predisposed, 15.6% situationally bound, and 39.4% unexpected.
Patients with GAD panic attacks exhibited higher scores on the Anxiety Sensitivity Index compared to those with other panic attack types, but no other significant differences in evaluated correlates were found.

Conclusions:

One in five patients with GAD experience panic attacks associated with catastrophic worry.
Higher anxiety sensitivity may be a distinguishing feature for GAD panic attacks.
Further research and replication are necessary to validate these findings and fully understand GAD panic attacks.