What defines panic disorder?

Panic disorder is characterized by the occurrence of recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort. These panic attacks often lead to significant concern about the possibility of experiencing future attacks. The diagnostic criteria specify that this fear or worry about future attacks must persist for a duration of more than one month. This feature of persistent worry about additional attacks is crucial in distinguishing panic disorder from other anxiety disorders.

In contrast, the other options describe symptoms or criteria more aligned with different anxiety disorders. For instance, experiencing excessive worry about various topics is a hallmark of generalized anxiety disorder. Anxiety in social situations is typically related to social anxiety disorder. Finally, the inability to control worry over time also pertains more closely to generalized anxiety disorder rather than panic disorder specifically. Each of these conditions has distinct symptoms that help differentiate them from panic disorder, which is primarily defined by the occurrence of panic attacks and the associated fear of having them again.