A man experiences chest pain, sweating, and dizziness without having a heart attack. Which psychiatric condition is most likely responsible for these symptoms?

• A. Generalized anxiety disorder
• B. Panic disorder
• C. Illness anxiety disorder
• D. Somatic symptom disorder

Answer: (B)

The symptoms presented—chest pain, sweating, and dizziness—are commonly associated with panic disorder. This condition is characterized by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden surges of intense fear or discomfort that reach a peak within minutes. During these attacks, individuals may experience physical symptoms such as those mentioned, as well as palpitations, shortness of breath, and feelings of choking.

Panic disorder can lead to significant distress and may cause individuals to fear future attacks, resulting in avoidance behaviors that can significantly impact their daily life. This aligns closely with the symptoms described in the question, where physical sensations mimic those of a cardiac event, even when a heart attack is ruled out.

In contrast, generalized anxiety disorder primarily involves chronic worry and anxiety, rather than acute physical symptoms. Illness anxiety disorder focuses on excessive worry about having a serious illness despite minimal or no symptoms, while somatic symptom disorder includes one or more physical symptoms that are distressing or result in significant disruption of daily life, but these symptoms are typically chronic and not episodic like those in panic disorder. Thus, panic disorder is the most fitting condition responsible for the acute physical manifestations experienced by the individual in this scenario.