Probably more than 200.000 Dutchmen suffer from panic disorder, characterized by short attacks of severe anxiety and accompanying somatic symptoms. The affection often is complicated by avoiding behaviour called agoraphobia. Panic attacks can be treated very well with antidepressive drugs, whether there is a depressive state or not. However, often these patients remain untreated. The etiology of the affection has a genetic as well as a psychologic background. The pathogenesis, however, is still unclear, despite intensive research.