Jen is a 13-year-old eighth grader with a history of both unexpected (uncued) panic attacks and situationally induced panic attacks. She suffers from a panic attack or similar symptoms approximately 3 - 4 times per week. During these panic attacks, Jen perspires, shakes, feels as if she were suffocating, feels dizzy, and fears that she is dying or "going crazy". Jen often worries about having future panic attacks and has developed a great deal of worry about going to public or crowded places. Jen hates riding on airplanes or buses, eating in the cafeteria or a restaurant, and going to concerts or parties because she worries that a panic attack in these places will be horribly embarrassing and escape will be difficult. Although Jen sometimes regrets missing out on a lot of fun activities with her friends and family, she usually feels as though it is not worth the risk of "being trapped" if her symptoms reappear.

Panic Disorder Without Agoraphobia

Joan is a 16-year-old high school junior who suffers from approximately 5 - 7 unexpected (uncued) panic attacks per week. These panic attacks started about two years ago and, ever since, she has constantly worried about having additional panic attacks. During a panic attack, Joan's experiences a number of unpleasant bodily sensations, including perspiration, trembling, numbness, and hot flashes. She fears she is going to die and sometimes feels as if she has become detached from her own body. Joan does not worry particularly about having these symptoms in crowded places; her worry instead focuses more on the panic attack themselves and their repercussions.