Why do episodes of panic stop?

Abstract

Episodes of panic are self-limiting--they all come to an end. However, it has not been explained how and why they end. Neither the cognitive nor the biological theory of panic deals with this phenomenon. As a first step toward an understanding of what stops a panic, we collected evidence about the self-limiting nature of these episodes. A semistructured interview was developed and conducted with 25 participants who had received a diagnosis of panic disorder. Participants reported a variety of triggers of panic, signs that a panic was ending, and strategies used to terminate panic episodes. A substantial proportion of participants indicated that there was a refractory period following panic episodes. The theoretical and therapeutic significance of this self-limiting feature of panic episodes is considered, as is the probable occurrence of a postpanic refractory period.