What psychological condition is characterized by sudden, unexpected episodes of intense fear?

Panic disorder is characterized by sudden and unexpected episodes of intense fear or discomfort known as panic attacks. These episodes can trigger a range of physical symptoms, such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, shaking, and feelings of impending doom. Individuals may experience these attacks without an obvious trigger, which contributes to the unpredictable nature of the disorder.

The defining feature of panic disorder is that these panic attacks are recurrent, causing significant distress and often leading to behavioral changes, such as avoiding situations where previous attacks occurred. This differentiates it from other anxiety-related conditions.

In contrast, generalized anxiety disorder involves chronic, excessive worry about various aspects of life, and social anxiety disorder is characterized by intense fear of social situations. Post-traumatic stress disorder is related to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event and often includes symptoms such as re-experiencing the trauma or heightened arousal, rather than the sudden episodes of panic that define panic disorder.