Panic disorder involves recurrent unexpected panic attacks, sudden surges of intense fear with physical symptoms, followed by persistent worry about future attacks or avoidance. It is treated with SSRIs or SNRIs and cognitive behavioral therapy that includes interoceptive exposure, with most people seeing major improvement within 12 weeks. Panic attacks are not medically dangerous. Stedfast Psychiatry treats panic disorder at 729 SW Federal Hwy in Stuart and by video across Florida; new patients call (561) 257-3099.
Panic Disorder at our Stuart office
For panic disorder treatment, residents of North River Shores, Rio, Sewall's Point and Port Salerno and Port Salerno, Hobe Sound, Sewall's Point and Indiantown are usually within a short drive. The office is on US-1 (SW Federal Highway) on the south side of Stuart, a few minutes from downtown and the Roosevelt Bridge.
New-patient scheduling for Stuart runs through (561) 257-3099. Existing patients reach the office directly at (772) 226-8265. Free parking is available in the surface lot in front of the building, with accessible spaces close to the entrance. If a same-week in-person slot is not open, a video visit with the same provider usually is.
The Stuart office is an entry point to Stedfast Psychiatry's Deep TMS and Spravato programs. Treatment sessions run at our Palm Beach Gardens TMS center and the Palm Beach Gardens Spravato rooms, roughly 40 and 40 minutes away; the evaluation, the screening scales and the prior authorization all happen here.
Who you will see in Stuart
The Stuart team includes psychiatric nurse practitioners Jienne Torres and Maria Ramos and physician assistant Alacia Sims. Visits in Spanish are available with Jienne Torres. Children and teens are seen by Alacia Sims and Jienne Torres.
Alacia Sims, PA-C
Physician Assistant · Adults and teens 15+
Jienne Torres, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner · Children 5+, adolescents and adults · English, Spanish
Maria Ramos, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner · Ages 12 and up
Signs of panic disorder
- Sudden episodes of intense fear peaking within minutes
- Pounding or racing heart, chest pain or tightness
- Shortness of breath or a choking feeling
- Dizziness, lightheadedness or feeling faint
- Sweating, trembling, chills or hot flashes
- Numbness or tingling in hands, face or lips
- Nausea or stomach distress
- Feeling detached from yourself or that things are unreal
How we diagnose it
A panic disorder evaluation at Stedfast Psychiatry includes a detailed description of your attacks (onset, peak, duration, symptoms, triggers), what you fear during them, how you have changed your life to avoid them, and whether agoraphobia has developed. We use the Panic Disorder Severity Scale, the GAD-7 and the PHQ-9 to measure baseline and progress. We review your caffeine, alcohol, cannabis and medication use, and your medical history. If you have not already had a medical workup, we coordinate with your primary care provider on an EKG, thyroid tests and a basic metabolic panel to rule out cardiac and endocrine causes. We also screen for depression, PTSD, social anxiety and substance use, which commonly accompany panic.
About 2.7 percent of US adults had panic disorder in the past year, and 4.7 percent will have it at some point in their lives.
Source: NIMH, National Comorbidity Survey Replication
Women are about twice as likely as men to develop panic disorder.
Source: NIMH
Cognitive behavioral therapy for panic disorder leads to panic-free status in roughly 70 to 80 percent of patients who complete treatment.
Source: American Psychological Association, Division 12 treatment review
Panic disorder patients account for a disproportionate share of emergency visits for chest pain; a large fraction of chest pain visits with normal cardiac findings involve panic.
Source: American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for Panic Disorder
Treatment for panic disorder in Stuart
Medication management
SSRIs are first-line: sertraline, paroxetine and fluoxetine are FDA-approved for panic disorder, and escitalopram and the SNRI venlafaxine XR are well supported. People with panic are unusually sensitive to activation in the first days of an SSRI, so we start at half the usual dose or lower and increase slowly over four to six weeks. Attacks usually decrease in frequency by week four to six, with full benefit at 8 to 12 weeks. A benzodiazepine such as clonazepam may be used briefly as a bridge during the first few weeks or for rare severe attacks, but we avoid daily long-term use because of tolerance, dependence and interference with therapy. Propranolol can help with physical symptoms in performance situations. Medication is continued for at least 12 months after remission and tapered slowly.
Psychotherapy
CBT for panic disorder is highly effective, often in 8 to 12 sessions. It includes education about the fight-or-flight response, correcting catastrophic interpretations of body sensations, slow breathing retraining, and interoceptive exposure: deliberately producing the feared sensations (spinning, running in place, breathing through a straw) until the brain learns they are harmless. When agoraphobia has developed, graded exposure to avoided places follows. CBT produces results comparable to medication and has lower relapse rates after treatment ends. Many patients combine both.
What to expect
Your first visit is a 45 to 60 minute evaluation, in person or by video. You leave with a clear explanation of what is happening in your body during an attack, a plan, and a prescription if medication is appropriate. Follow-ups are every two to three weeks while the SSRI is being titrated, then monthly, then every two to three months. CBT sessions are weekly for two to three months. Telehealth works well for panic disorder, and for patients with agoraphobia it removes the barrier of leaving home to get help.
The complete guide, including causes, subtypes and research, is on our Panic Disorder page.
Emergency and crisis resources near Stuart
In an emergency, call 911 or go to Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital Emergency Department (200 SE Hospital Ave, Stuart). The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text 24 hours a day. Cleveland Clinic Martin South Hospital Emergency Department and 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline are also listed on the Stuart office page.
Frequently asked questions
Who provides panic disorder treatment at the Stuart office?
The Stuart team includes psychiatric nurse practitioners Jienne Torres and Maria Ramos and physician assistant Alacia Sims. Visits in Spanish are available with Jienne Torres. Every provider works under psychiatrist oversight and the same evaluation standard: about an hour for a first visit, validated screening scales, and a written plan.
Can I be seen by video instead of coming to Stuart?
Yes. Stedfast Psychiatry providers are licensed in Florida and offer video visits for evaluations and follow-ups. Some situations, including certain controlled-substance prescriptions and first visits for young children, require an in-person appointment at 729 SW Federal Hwy.
Does the Stuart office take my insurance?
We accept most major commercial plans and Medicare. Call (561) 257-3099 with your member ID and we will verify benefits before the visit. Self-pay new-patient evaluations are $185.
How soon can a new patient be seen in Stuart?
Most new patients are scheduled within one to two weeks. If you need to be seen sooner, ask about a video visit; those often open up within days. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room rather than waiting.
Can I get Deep TMS or Spravato as a Stuart patient?
Yes. Stedfast Psychiatry is licensed for both. Your Stuart provider does the evaluation and the prior authorization; treatment sessions are scheduled at our Palm Beach Gardens TMS center and the Palm Beach Gardens Spravato rooms.
Is a panic attack dangerous? Could it be a heart attack?
A panic attack is not dangerous, although it feels like it. The racing heart, chest tightness and shortness of breath are the normal fight-or-flight response firing at the wrong time. A first episode of chest pain deserves a medical evaluation, including an EKG, to rule out cardiac causes. Once that is normal, further attacks with the same pattern are panic, and treating the panic ends the cycle of ER visits.
What is the best medication for panic attacks?
SSRIs such as sertraline, paroxetine and escitalopram are first-line and prevent attacks over 8 to 12 weeks. Benzodiazepines stop an attack within 20 to 30 minutes but are not a good long-term solution because of dependence and because they prevent the brain from learning the attack is harmless. We often start a low SSRI dose and use a benzodiazepine only briefly as a bridge, if at all.
Nearby Stedfast offices
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room. Educational content; individual results vary. Reviewed by Dr. David Husted, board-certified psychiatrist.