Is a panic attack life-threatening?

A panic attack itself is usually not a threat to life, although it feels very frightening. But similar symptoms can have other causes, so a first episode or unusual symptoms should be discussed with a doctor.

Is the online panic attack test really free and anonymous?

Yes. The test is free, no registration needed. We do not store your answers or share them with third parties. The result reaches a psychologist only if you choose to add it to your booking.

How often can I take the test?

The test covers the last 4 weeks, so it makes sense to repeat it about once a month. This shows whether attacks are becoming rarer.

How is a panic attack different from ordinary anxiety?

Anxiety builds gradually and can last hours or days. A panic attack comes suddenly, like a wave, with strong physical symptoms, and its most intense part usually lasts a few minutes.

Whom to see with panic attacks — a psychologist or a psychiatrist?

You can start with a psychologist or psychotherapist: psychotherapy is the main treatment. If attacks are severe or frequent, the specialist may also suggest a psychiatrist to assess whether medication is needed. Seeking help does not necessarily mean medication. Physical causes are assessed by a doctor — a GP or cardiologist. Panic disorder is very treatable.

Why PHQ-PD and not the PDSS scale?

PHQ-PD checks whether there are signs of panic disorder and suits a first self-check. PDSS measures the severity of an already diagnosed disorder and is usually used by a specialist during therapy.

Panic attack test online

Sudden fear, heart pounding, short of breath, a feeling that something terrible is about to happen. The panic attack test helps you understand whether this looks like panic attacks and whether there are signs of panic disorder. It has yes / no questions about the last 4 weeks and takes about 3 minutes. You will see the result right away, with an explanation and advice on what to do next.

up to 15 questions
3 minutes
instant result
anonymous

The test does not make a diagnosis. Similar sensations can have physical causes. If chest pain, shortness of breath or dizziness appeared for the first time, see a doctor first. If your state has suddenly worsened right now, call 103.

Panic attack test

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Reviewed

Mariia Horodova, Psychologist, Medical Editor at Health360 · 10 November 2026

What a panic attack is

A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort that peaks within minutes. It comes with physical symptoms: palpitations, shortness of breath, trembling, sweating, dizziness, chest pain, numbness, and fear of losing control, going crazy or dying. Under DSM-5 criteria, a panic attack involves at least four such symptoms at once.

Panic attacks are more common than it seems. In a WHO survey of more than 140,000 adults in 25 countries, 13.2% had at least one panic attack in their lifetime (de Jonge et al., 2016). Most had repeated attacks.

A panic attack and panic disorder are not the same

One panic attack does not mean a disorder. It can happen after strong stress, a sleepless night or even too much caffeine. Panic disorder is when attacks:

recur and come suddenly, without an obvious reason;
are followed by at least a month of worrying about another attack, or by changes in behaviour: avoiding the metro, shops, trips, not staying alone.

In the same WHO survey, 1.7% of people had panic disorder in their lifetime. These are the signs — suddenness, recurrence, fear of a new attack — that the test on this page checks. More about symptoms and causes — in the article «Panic disorder: symptoms, causes and CBT» (article in progress).

How the panic attack test works

The test is built on the panic disorder module of the PHQ questionnaire (Spitzer et al., JAMA, 1999). The method is free to use (phqscreeners.com). First, four questions check whether there were attacks, whether they were sudden and whether they bother you. Then 11 questions ask about symptoms during your last bad attack.

The result matches signs of panic disorder if the attacks were sudden, kept coming back, you fear a new attack and there were several bodily symptoms during the attack. If the full set of signs is not there but there are many positive answers, the result shows signs of panic attacks: in one study this approach detected panic disorder with 77% sensitivity (Muñoz-Navarro et al., 2016). The test is screening. A specialist makes the diagnosis after a conversation.

What to do during a panic attack

Name what is happening: «This is a panic attack. It is unpleasant, but temporary».
Breathe out more slowly than you breathe in: for example, in for 4 counts, out for 6.
Bring your attention back to your body and surroundings: feel your feet on the floor, name five things you can see. Step-by-step 2-minute grounding technique (article in progress).
If you are safe, do not rush to leave: the attack will pass here too, and avoidance strengthens fear over time. But do not force yourself to stay if there is real danger or doubt about your physical state.
Do not fight the sensations or fear them: give yourself time and treat your state with understanding.

These techniques ease a single attack but do not remove the cause. If attacks recur, work with a specialist is needed.

When to see a specialist

See a psychologist if the test showed signs of panic attacks, or if:

attacks recur or become more frequent;
you constantly wait for the next attack;
you started avoiding places and situations where it «might happen»;
you increasingly need alcohol or sedatives without a prescription to calm down.

A first attack with chest pain, shortness of breath or dizziness should be shown to a doctor: similar symptoms occur with heart, thyroid or blood pressure problems. If chest pain is severe and does not go away, call 103.

How panic attacks are treated

Panic disorder is very treatable. According to the World Health Organization, cognitive behavioural therapy-based methods, including exposure therapy, have the most evidence for anxiety disorders. A person learns to interpret bodily sensations differently and gradually stops avoiding feared situations. Sometimes psychotherapy is combined with medication prescribed by a psychiatrist. Seeking help does not necessarily mean you need medication.

After the test you can choose a Health360 psychologist right away: online consultations, the first 30-minute session is free.

Other tests

If constant tension and worry bother you rather than sudden attacks, take the GAD-7 anxiety test. Long-term stress and panic attacks often go with low mood — check yourself with the PHQ-9 depression test. All methods are on the psychological tests online page.

Frequently asked questions

Symptoms usually peak within a few minutes and then gradually ease. Tiredness and anxiety after an attack can last longer.

Sources

Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW. Validation and utility of a self-report version of PRIME-MD: the PHQ primary care study. JAMA. 1999;282(18):1737-1744. doi:10.1001/jama.282.18.1737
Muñoz-Navarro R, et al. The PHQ-PD as a screening tool for panic disorder in the primary care setting in Spain. PLoS ONE. 2016;11(8):e0161145. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0161145
de Jonge P, et al. Cross-national epidemiology of panic disorder and panic attacks in the World Mental Health Surveys. Depress Anxiety. 2016;33(12):1155-1177. doi:10.1002/da.22572
PHQ Screeners, умови використання / terms of use: phqscreeners.com
World Health Organization. Anxiety disorders. Fact sheet, 15.09.2026: who.int

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