Testing for Panic Disorder

あなたの医師または精神科医があなたがパニック障害に苦しんでいると疑っている場合、彼は最初にいくつかのテストを実行して彼らの診断を確認することを選択するかもしれません。パニック障害のほとんどのテストは、障害自体を探すのではなく、むしろ身体的な問題を除外し、パニック障害を唯一の原因として残します。

1. 血液検査

   • The most common tests run by doctors to screen out any physical reasons for anxiety and panic attacks are blood tests. These tests check hormone levels, organ function, thyroid function, vitamin and mineral levels as well as many other body functions.医師は、物理的に間違っていないことを確認するために完全な血液パネルを実行する可能性が高いですが、治療オプションとして薬を使用した場合、患者の体がどのように反応するかを確認します。

   イメージング

   • If the blood tests are inconclusive or show a problem, they may be followed up with additional tests including imaging. If a problem with the thyroid is detected, an ultrasound may be used to determine what, if any, damage there is. In addition, a CT scan or EEG of the head may be taken to rule out tumors as a possible cause of the panic attacks and anxiety.

   心理的検査

   • Psychological tests are used to determine the level of anxiety and the severity of the panic attacks.医師は質問をし、回答を使用して、患者がパニック障害を持っていると考えているかどうか、またはそれが別のタイプの不安障害であるかどうかを判断します。 Due to the nature of this kind of testing, the results are not very reliable because they are based on the testimony of the patient.

   Sleep Study

   • If the patient is suffering from a sleep disorder, this can cause symptoms of anxiety. If the doctor suspects that sleeping problems are the cause of the symptoms, he may order a sleep study. Sleep apnea is one sleeping problem that can affect stress levels, but there are many other sleeping disorders that can be the cause. The body needs sleep to fully recharge, and if something is interfering with this process, it can take a toll on the mind and body.

   Neurotransmitter Testing

   • Neurotransmitter testing is a urine test used to check the levels of neurotransmitters released by the body. When the body is under stress, the kidneys secrete neurotransmitters for reasons that are still not completely understood. Testing neurotransmitter levels not only shows the doctor a physical sign of the stress, but can also be helpful in treatment.リリースされた神経伝達物質のレベルは、医師に、どの薬を処方すべきか、もしあれば、どのように服用すべきかを伝えます。