Body: There may be a genetic predisposition to anxiety disorders; some sufferers report that a family member has or had a panic disorder or some other emotional disorder such as depression. Studies with twins have confirmed the possibility of 'genetic inheritance' of the disorder. Panic Disorder could also be due to a biological malfunction, although a specific biological marker has yet to be identified. All ethnic groups are vulnerable to panic disorder.

The exact cause of panic disorder is not known but scientists believe that it may be caused by an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers of the brain that allow cells to communicate with each other. Norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) are such neurotransmitters. An imbalance of these chemicals is thought to affect the symptoms of panic disorder.

The causes of BDD fall into two major categories, neurobiological and psychosocial. NEUROBIOLOGICAL CAUSES.Research indicates that patients diagnosed with BDD have serotonin levels that are lower than normal. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter- a chemical produced by the brain that helps to transmit nerve impulses across the junctions between nerve cells. Low serotonin levels are associated with depression and other mood disorders. PSYCHOSOCIAL CAUSES.

Panic disorder is a medical condition. Panic disorder causes sudden, severe attacks of uncontrollable anxiety and fear. Panic attacks may be triggered by specific phobias or fears, such fear of snakes or heights or they may just occur suddenly for no apparent reason. Many people with panic attacks become so anxious about when and where they may experience a panic attack that they avoid certain places or even stop leaving their home.

Although the exact causes of panic attacks and panic disorder are still not clear, several factors may be responsible. These include an imbalance of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters), a family history of panic disorder, ways of thinking that increase your stress or anxiety, and unresolved psychological issues. Panic attacks sometimes occur as a result of a stressful situation or they can happen with no apparent trigger.

Panic disorder is almost twice as common in women than men, but this result may be due to the fact that fewer men are willing to seek medical treatment.

Prescription medications. Several classes of prescription drugs available for treating panic disorder. Each medication class has specific characteristics such as mechanism of action, possible side effects, drug or disease interactions, and price. You and your doctor can select the most appropriate drug for you based on these factors.

We follow Becky Bruno, a teenager suffering from social anxiety disorder, as she explains how she learned to start enjoying her life. Hear from experts on different types of therapeutic massage, how to find a good therapist, and when you should avoid altogether. Everyone worries now and then and that's healthy. But for some people, unrelenting worry interferes with their ability to enjoy life.

The main signs of panic disorder are sudden, severe attacks of uncontrollable anxiety and fear. These signs are accompanied by at least four or more the following additional symptoms: The immediate symptoms of a panic attack can last for 10-15 minutes and usually occur suddenly without warning, but the anxiety and stress of the attack can persist for hours.

Many things can contribute to a panic attack, more than we can list here. Diet, exercise, shallow "chest" breathing, caffeine, etc. More information . . . Back to Top

Experts are not sure what causes binge eating disorder. It might run in families (genetic link). Experts think cultural attitudes about body shape and weight also play a role in eating disorders.1 Anxiety, depression, or stress can trigger binging in some people.2

Researchers don't know exactly what causes bipolar disorder, though they have identified genes that appear to be related to the disease. In some people, the disease is hereditary. But in others, it appears for no apparent reason. Read more about what causes bipolar disorder.

This article discusses causes of eating disorders and defines them. Personality, genetic and biochemistry issues are discussed.

A panic attack is a sudden bout of intense fear or anxiety that causes frightening but not life-threatening symptoms such as a pounding heart, shortness of breath, and the feeling of losing control or dying. Usually from 5 to 20 minutes long, a panic attack may be triggered by stressful circumstances or it may occur unexpectedly. The body has an automatic fear response that prepares you to either cope with or run away from danger.

This is a general classification for a wide spectrum of interventions from many different medical paradigms; in both traditional and modern practice, mind/body therapies are often used as adjunctive or preventative therapies. They include more conventional western therapies such as psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and hypnosis as well as techniques native to Asian medical systems and cultures such as yoga, qi gong, and meditation.

Mind-Body Consulting is a holistic way of looking at feline behavior problems. Because the mind and body are intimately linked, you can't change one without affecting the other. We believe that it is best to address cat behavior problems in their "natural setting" so we can understand what physical, social, and environmental factors may be involved.

Essentially, mind/body medicine is any therapy that seeks to aid or accelerate the healing process by using the power of the mind over the body. Most focus on stress relief, whether as a way to improve overall health and lifestyle or as a way to let the body get on with the business of healing itself, unimpeded by negative thoughts, emotions, and harmful stress hormones.

Doctors diagnose panic disorders based on symptoms that could be alleviated through counseling, medication or both. Your doctor can help you decide whether or not you have this disorder. Doctors may diagnose depression when a blue mood lasts two or more weeks. They also look at other symptoms, such as weight change, sleep changes and concentration difficulties. Depression is a mental illness, not a character weakness, that often requires treatment through counseling, medication or both.

A digestive disorder may be the result of another problem in the body or the cause of another problem in the body. Doctors are familiar with determining the significance of a digestive disorder. A thorough examination of the patient's body accompanied by other diagnostic tests can help a physician diagnose any potential problems related to a digestive disorder.

BDD is a phychological disorder in which a person becomes obsessed with flaws they see in their appearance. It is categorized by excessive concern with imagined or exaggerated problems in ones appearance. Cases of Body Dysmorphic Disorder can vary from mild to very severe.

Although researchers have not yet pinpointed an absolute cause of TMJ, factors such as a bad bite, tooth loss, muscle deficiencies, tooth grinding and improper cranial development are linked to the development of TMJ dysfunction. TMJ health may also be adversely affected by stress, injury and arthritis.

Genetic Factors: Studies show the risk of developing panic disorder is 15-17% in first degree relatives of panic disorder patients. The risk for development in identical twins is 24-31%. This indicates that panic disorder may be genetically transmitted. Psychoanalytic Theories: Panic apprehension may be the emergence of deeply rooted, primarily aggressive unconscious conflicts, that originated in traumatic experiences in early childhood.