Panic Disorder: Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:

  • General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; furthermore:
    • Inspection (viewing).
      • Skin and mucous membranes [sweating?, tremor (shivering)?, cyanosis (cyanosis)?]
      • Pupillary reaction?
      • Paresis (paralysis)?
    • Testing of the sensorium (Latin “totality of all the senses”).
    • Auscultation (listening) of the heart
    • Auscultation (listening) of the lungs [breath sound?]
    • Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (abdomen) (pressure pain?, knocking pain?, coughing pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, kidney bearing knocking pain?)
  • Psychiatric examination [due topossible sequelae:
    • Alcohol abuse (alcohol dependence)
    • Evidence of withdrawal or intoxication syndromes.
    • Depression]
  • Health Check

Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.