Adolescents' lived experience of panic disorder: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Adolescence
IPA
Lived experience
Panic disorder
Qualitative
Youth
Journal
BMC psychology
ISSN: 2050-7283
Titre abrégé: BMC Psychol
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101627676
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
06 Jun 2022
06 Jun 2022
Historique:
received:
13
07
2021
accepted:
24
05
2022
entrez:
6
6
2022
pubmed:
7
6
2022
medline:
9
6
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Panic disorder is a debilitating anxiety disorder that has a serious impact on adolescents' social and academic functioning and general wellbeing. Panic disorder is experienced by around 1 to 3% of the adolescent population. The aim of this study was to examine adolescents' experiences of having panic disorder. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight adolescents with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to gain an understanding of adolescents' lived experience of panic disorder. Two superordinate themes were identified: (1) Drowning in sensations, and (2) An unacceptable self. The findings show that adolescents experience panic disorder as extremely overwhelming and unpleasant, with debilitating feelings of drowning in sensations. Adolescents' experiences largely fit with the cognitive model of panic, in which catastrophic misinterpretation of bodily sensations is associated with anxiety, avoidance, and safety behaviours, creating a vicious cycle. Attempts to avoid or prevent the attacks appear to inadvertently make them worse. Social worries, feeling broadly misunderstood, and unhelpful responses from others, contributed to feelings of being different or abnormal and were connected to a negative self-concept. Negative social interactions with teachers and peers in the school environment were particularly damaging. These findings offer new insight into these adolescents' lived experience of panic disorder and highlight the need for adolescents to access timely, evidence-based treatment, as well as the need for increased awareness and understanding of panic disorder in schools.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Panic disorder is a debilitating anxiety disorder that has a serious impact on adolescents' social and academic functioning and general wellbeing. Panic disorder is experienced by around 1 to 3% of the adolescent population. The aim of this study was to examine adolescents' experiences of having panic disorder.
METHODS
METHODS
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight adolescents with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to gain an understanding of adolescents' lived experience of panic disorder.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Two superordinate themes were identified: (1) Drowning in sensations, and (2) An unacceptable self. The findings show that adolescents experience panic disorder as extremely overwhelming and unpleasant, with debilitating feelings of drowning in sensations. Adolescents' experiences largely fit with the cognitive model of panic, in which catastrophic misinterpretation of bodily sensations is associated with anxiety, avoidance, and safety behaviours, creating a vicious cycle. Attempts to avoid or prevent the attacks appear to inadvertently make them worse. Social worries, feeling broadly misunderstood, and unhelpful responses from others, contributed to feelings of being different or abnormal and were connected to a negative self-concept. Negative social interactions with teachers and peers in the school environment were particularly damaging.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
These findings offer new insight into these adolescents' lived experience of panic disorder and highlight the need for adolescents to access timely, evidence-based treatment, as well as the need for increased awareness and understanding of panic disorder in schools.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35668509
doi: 10.1186/s40359-022-00849-x
pii: 10.1186/s40359-022-00849-x
pmc: PMC9167912
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
143Subventions
Organisme : national institute for health research
ID : PDF-2016-09-092
Informations de copyright
© 2022. The Author(s).
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