Research finds that people with more severe catastrophic thoughts about their bodily sensations tend to have more frequent and severe panic attacks. This finding provides empirical support for the cognitive theory of panic disorder (Good & Hinton, 2009).

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Cognitive theories propose that panic disorder is driven by a tendency to misinterpret ordinary bodily sensations in a catastrophic way. According to this model, these fearful interpretations of harmless physical changes initiate a vicious cycle of escalating fear and anxiety, which triggers more physical symptoms and ultimately culminates in a panic attack.

Cognitive Theory of Panic Disorder

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

A central cognitive feature of panic disorder is the catastrophic interpretation of subtle, harmless bodily changes that result from innocuous events. For instance, an individual might perceive dizziness from standing up quickly or an increased heart rate from exercise as signs of an impending heart attack. This misinterpretation is the trigger that creates the fear and anxiety leading to a panic attack.

Catastrophic Interpretation of Bodily Sensations in Panic Disorder

Correlation Between Catastrophic Thoughts and Panic Attack Severity

Among people with panic disorder, reducing catastrophic cognitions about bodily sensations has been found to be as effective as medication in reducing panic attacks (Good & Hinton, 2009).

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