... cause of panic disorder stems from a negative cognitive schema that is brought about by mechanisms such as locus of control, negative attributional styles, and catastrophic misinterpretations. Cognitive Etiology Theories Among the cognitive theorists, Clark (1993) suggests that individuals with panic disorder cognitively misinterpret certain bodily sensations. Somatic and psychological sensations are often perceived as more dangerous than they really are. Further, the tendency to misjudge physiological symptoms is said to stem from an enduring cognitive state. Patients who suffer from panic attacks are unable to distinguish between the The Etiology of Panic 3 triggering body sensation and the subsequent panic attack, thus leading the patient to believe that the attacks are spontaneous and without a specific cause. Cognitive misinterpretations are hypothesized to occur rapidly on both a conscious and sub-conscious level and according to Clark (1993), catastrophic misinterpretations need not be conscious to trigger a panic attack: "In patients who experience recurrent ...

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