ABSTRACT
Emily was 14 when she was referred by her GP with panic symptoms. Her symptoms began when she fainted at school, during what was then a very busy schedule of academic and sports commitments, towards the end of a summer term. In the hot atmosphere of a bus she fainted and was taken to hospital. She began to be fearful of faints, and sensibly began to reduce her commitments. However, during the summer vacation Emily began to feel tired, didn't want to eat, felt nauseous, and again felt at risk of fainting. During panic episodes she felt she was going to die. At the beginning of a new term in September, in a new school, Emily was fearful of fainting, particularly on the bus journey (otherwise, she looked forward to the challenge of the new school). Indeed during the ®rst few weeks of school Emily felt nauseous in the morning, and felt tired and drained much of the time. These symptoms continued, together with dif®culty getting off to sleep, nightmares, some lack of hunger, and some restriction of going out with friends.
