22nd February 2024

Investigations

Many of the symptoms seen in panic attacks can mimic organic medical conditions, so all individuals with new onset of panic attacks without a clear cause should undergo medical investigations first. 

• Physical examination and measurement of vital signs to assess for hypertension, tachycardia, or shortness of breath. 
• ECG to identify any arrythmia or ischaemic change that could contribute to the symptoms. 
• Blood tests such as full blood count, electrolytes, or thyroid panel. 
• The panic disorder severity scale (PDSS) is a 10-item questionnaire. Each question is rated out of 5, with scores ranging from 0-28. The higher the score, the greater the severity. It is often used to diagnose panic disorders and as a measure of treatment progress.