The experience of panic attacks in adolescents: an interpretative phenomenological analysis study

Figures & data

Table 1. Participants’ demographic and clinical characteristics

Participant^a	Age	Gender	Ethnicity	No. of years experienced panic attacks	No. of panic attacks in last month	No. of limited symptom attacks in last month	PDSS-C total score^b	RCADS Panic T score	RCADS Total Anxiety & Depression T score	Current and past treatment for panic attacks
Jenny	15	Female	White British	4	3	5	12	>80**	>80**	Currently receiving CBT, medication
Tanya	17	Female	White Other	2	3	5	8	68*	59	No
Sarah	18	Female	White British	14	5	2	10	70**	58	No
Maya	17	Female	Asian or Asian British	4	3	“lots”	17	75**	76**	Currently receiving CBT, medication
Alex	16	Female	White British	3	5	15	10	80**	62	No
Ella	18	Female	White British	2-3	7	10	14	>80**	75**	Awaiting treatment
Emily	18	Female	White British	8	1	2	11	>80**	76**	Awaiting CBT; previously received counselling
Sam	16	Male	White British	3	1	2	17	>80**	>80**	Currently receiving medication
Ashley	15	Female	White British	4	2	2	14	>80**	64	No; previously received CBT

Table Note. CBT = Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; PDSS-C = Panic Disorder Severity Scale for Children; RCADS = Revised Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Scale. ^a All participant names have been substituted for pseudonyms. ^b Maximum score on PDSS-C is 28. * T score in borderline range; ** T score in clinical range.

Table 2. Endorsement of Superordinate and Subordinate Themes

Themes	Jenny	Tanya	Sarah	Maya	Alex	Ella	Emily	Sam	Ashley	Total
1. “A malevolent tsunami”: Natural disaster as a metaphor for panic attacks	*	*	*	*		*	*	*	*	8
2. “It was kind of like battling against myself”: Disconnection between parts of self during panic attacks		*		*	*	*	*	*	*	7
3. Feeling out of control:	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	9
3a. “It’s like something else is taking over your body and mind”	*	*	*	*	*	*
		6
3b. “This is it, I’m gone”: Feeling of losing control over one’s mind	*		*		*		*	*	*	6
4. “I feel like a bit of a weirdo”: Panic attacks affect identity	*		*	*	*	*	*	*	*	8
5. Disconnection from others:	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	9
5a. “People might think, oh she’s just over-reacting”: Others not understanding what panic attacks are like	*	*	*	*	*		*	*	*	8
5b. “You feel like you’re imprisoned”: Feeling isolated	*	*	*	*	*	*		*	*	8
6. Finding ways to cope	*	*	*		*	*	*	*	*	8