Sudden Onset of Extreme Fear 'Gonghwangjang-ae'... 44.5% Increase in 5 Years

In the past five years, the number of patients with panic disorder has surged. Early diagnosis and treatment are necessary as most patients can maintain their daily lives if treated promptly.

Stock photo of panic disorder.
Photo by Asia Economy DB

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The National Health Insurance Service announced on the 13th the status of health insurance treatment for panic disorder (F41.0) from 2017 to 2021 using health insurance treatment data.

The number of patients increased by 61,804 (44.5%) from 138,736 in 2017 to 200,540 in 2021, with an average annual growth rate of 9.6%. As of 2021, the total medical expenses for panic disorder reached 91 billion KRW, an 83.5% increase compared to 2017. The average medical expense per patient was 454,000 KRW.

By gender, females numbered 111,267, exceeding males at 89,273. By age group, those in their 40s were the largest at 46,924 (23.4%), followed by those in their 50s at 38,519 (19.2%), and those in their 30s at 36,722 (18.3%).

Professor Park Jaeseop of the Department of Psychiatry at National Health Insurance Ilsan Hospital explained, "Generally, panic disorder is known to onset in early adulthood, but the high number of patients in their 40s in Korea may be due to delayed treatment after worsening without treatment in early adulthood, or chronicity and relapse due to inconsistent treatment in the early stages."

Panic disorder is characterized by anxiety symptoms, specifically panic attacks, that occur unexpectedly without a particular reason. Panic attacks involve extreme fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as a racing heart, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and sweating. Various factors contribute to the onset, and reasons may differ by individual. Psychological stress, physical illness, overwork, or consumption of alcohol or caffeine can sensitize bodily sensations. When these sensations are catastrophically interpreted as problematic, autonomic nervous system arousal is triggered, increasing the likelihood of experiencing panic disorder.

There is currently no known way to prevent panic disorder 100%. However, following general healthy lifestyle guidelines can have a significant preventive effect. It is important to manage stress and physical tension through regular exercise, hobbies, and rest. Avoiding excessive alcohol and caffeine intake is advisable, and practicing expressing and resolving negative emotions appropriately rather than suppressing them can also help.

Professor Park emphasized, "If it worsens, it can prevent normal daily life, social activities, and work, leading to severe depression," adding, "Many delay treatment due to reluctance toward medication, but in the early stages of the disease, non-pharmacological treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or recently recognized new medical technology like virtual reality exposure therapy are also effective, so it is important not to neglect and to treat early."

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