Panics and Their Consequences: A Review and Prospect: S. Rachman

The consequences of panic can constitute a more serious problem than the panic itself. Most panics are distressing, but the consequences can be disabling. The average duration of a panic is about 20 minutes (Taylor, Shiek, Agras et al., 1986), and the consequences can endure for years. Panics can be followed by a compression of the person's activities within intolerable limits, and in severe instances lead to the adoption of a housebound existence.