Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat
Published on: September 12, 2014
[Are pathological (or vital) anxiety and common fear the same experiences? A controlled study]
J A Ramos Brieva1, M L Montejo Iglesias, C Ponce de León
1Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital, Ramón y Cajal, Madrid.
Introduction:
Some authors affirm that the anxiety of panic attacks is endogenous and of different quality that the common fear. But objective clinical data don't exist that confirm that observation.
Method:
The authors study by means of a discriminant analysis the description of the anxiety made by subject with panic attacks and normal subjects with common fear.
Results:
It meet a discriminant function that shows the existence of qualitative differences between both experiences.
Conclusion:
It seem to have achieved enough empirical support in order to sustain that the anxiety of panic attacks and the common fear are two qualitatively different experiences; presumably due to their several origin.
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