40 year male with sudden onset palpitations, apprehension, sweating and fears impending death

Babu, a 40 year old male complains of sudden onset palpitations and apprehension. He is sweating for last 10 minutes and fears of impending death. Diagnosis is:

A. Hysteria
B. Cystic fibrosis
C. Panic attack
D. Generalized anxiety disorder

Answer is C. Panic attack
A panic attack is a discrete episode of acute anxiety. The following features are usually seen:

• sudden onset
• transient and lasts for a few minutes
• characterized by severe anxiety with palpitations, apprehension, sweating and fear of impending doom or death.

No apparent precipitating factor is seen in a panic attack.