Table of Contents

1. The panic disorder concept: a historical perspective.- 2. A neural systems approach to the study of panic disorder.- 3. The hippocampus and Panic Disorder: evidence from animal and human studies.- 4. Panic Disorder, is it really a mental disorder? From body functions to the homeostatic brain.- 5. Staging of panic disorder: implications for neurobiology and treatment.- 6. Panic disorder respiratory subtype.- 7. Lifelong opioidergic vulnerability through early life separation: A recent extension of the false suffocation alarm theory of panic disorder.- 8. Circadian Rhythm in Panic Disorder.- 9. Some genetic aspects of panic disorder.- 10. Panic disorder and personality disorders.- 11. Possible mechanisms linking panic disorder and cardiac syndromes.- 12. Panic disorder and cardiovascular death: what's beneath?.- 13. Pulmonary embolism in the setting of panic attacks.- 14. Panic and Self-consciousness.- 15. Pharmacological treatment with the Serotonin Selective Receptores inhibitors.- 16. Benzodiazepines in panic disorder.- 17. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat panic disorder.- 18. Exercise in Panic Disorder: implications for maintenance, treatment and physical health.- 19. Pharmacological treatment of panic disorder with non-selective drugs.

About the Author

Antonio Egidio Nardi was graduated at the medical school of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) (1984). In 1989 completed his master in psychiatry in UFRJ. In 1992 completed his research doctorate in UFRJ. From 1997 to 1998 did his post-doctoral studies in Respiratory Physiology Laboratory of Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute in UFRJ (IBCCF-UFRJ). Is currently full professor at the medical school of the UFRJ and at the Institute of Psychiatry of UFRJ (IPUB-UFRJ). Coordinates the Laboratory of Panic and Respiration (IPUB-UFRJ) and the INCT Translational Medicine. Has experience in clinical practice, research and teaching in the field of psychiatry. Has a researcher grant (1A) from the National Council for Scientific Development (CNPq). Is a full member of the Academia Nacional de Medicina (Brazilian National Academy of Medicine) and international fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Published more than 400 papers, more than 50 book chapters and edited more than 10 books. Rafael Christophe da Rocha Freire was graduated at the medical school of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) (2002). In 2008 completed his master in psychiatry in the Institute of Psychiatry (IPUB) of the UFRJ. In 2012 completed his research doctorate in IPUB-UFRJ, with a period of research training (sandwich doctorate) in the Villa San Benedetto Hospital (Italy). In 2014 completed his post-doctoral studies in IPUB-UFRJ. Is currently professor at the medical school of the UFRJ and at the IPUB-UFRJ. Is a researcher in the Laboratory of Panic and Respiration (IPUB-UFRJ) and the INCT Translational Medicine. Has experience in clinical practice, research and teaching in the field of psychiatry.