Panic symptoms at the interface of body and mind.

Panic disorder is a common illness with significant impact on function and, at times, disabling consequences. Advances over recent years have yielded potential pathophysiologic mechanisms, including neurotransmitter systems and neural substrates. This article provides an overview of various models and hypotheses regarding the etiology of panic disorder. Because its symptoms overlap with the symptoms of various medical disorders, this discussion reviews the comorbidity of panic disorder with medical conditions, especially cardiac and respiratory disorders.