People at risk

The people most affected are:

• the women (they are 1,5 to 2 times more affected than men)⁴ ;
• the jeunes (between 15 and 20 years old);
• people with family history of panic disorder ;
• people with a history of sexual abuse or mistreatment.

Risk factors

Several factors can trigger panic attacks or spasmophilia. These vary greatly from person to person, and in many cases there is no clearly identified triggering factor, although several studies have shown the influence of traumatic events experienced during childhood, especially in connection with separation anxiety (fear of separating from one’s parents)5.

Among the factors frequently found:

• a context of relational difficulties (divorce, conflict, mistreatment, etc.);
• bereavement or illness;
• the consumption of alcohol, cannabis or drugs;
• certain anxiety-provoking situations, such as public transport, the plane, the crowd, etc…;
• taking or suddenly stopping certain medications, in particular certain antidepressants.

All the symptoms are considerably amplified by additional problems: dental, parasitic diseases, viral infections, etc…. The crisis and the “fear of the crisis” correspond to the threshold which, once crossed, makes life impossible. Listening to the patient and the ability to reassure him is important.