Elements of death anxiety in women with panic disorder and its consequences

This study investigates both quality and type of perception that females with panic disorder experience toward death and its consequences. Research design was grounded theory. Semi-Structured In-Depth Interviews were used to collect data. Population included females suffered from panic disorder under treatment procedure in Counseling Centers and Psychiatric Services, Qom city, Iran, spring and summer of 2018. 13 patients were purposefully sampled. Their age range was 22 – 52 year.  The analysis of data led into 11 main strata extracted from 39 initial concepts. The findings of this study included the two main categories of negative attitude (fear of death, ambiguity of death, fear of death of loved ones, non-existence, and helplessness) and positive attitude (emancipation). Negative consequences of death were anxiety (negative emotions, interpersonal disturbances, diminishing positive experiences, impaired daily functioning, and excessive attention to health). The results showed that death anxiety is one of the most important components of panic disorder and has many negative consequences for identifying its elements which can play an important role in the treatment of panic disorder. it is necessary to treat the panic disorder at the same time  their death anxiety can also be met with methods of increasing death awareness and exposure while preventing recurrence of panic disorder while increasing the effectiveness of treatment.