Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Panic disorder involves repeated distressing panic attacks, often accompanied by a concern for future panic attacks and their consequences. Panic attacks can happen unexpectedly, and involve overwhelming and frightening symptoms such as a racing heart, or shortness of breath. The cognitive model of panic suggests that individuals with panic disorder misinterpret normal bodily sensations that are present in everyday life. For example, someone with panic disorder might think that a shaky feeling means they are about to lose control or go crazy, exacerbating this feeling and leading to a panic attack. Indeed, concerns about losing control have been shown to appear in various mental health disorders, and can lead to unhealthy behaviours and negative feelings. Cognitive behavioural therapy is a form of treatment that is known to help many people with panic disorder, however, it does not work for everyone, and can leave some still struggling. By deepening our understanding of the thought processes and beliefs that contribute to panic disorder-like fears of losing control-we can improve treatment effectiveness for those in need. The proposed research will consist of 3 separate studies aimed at understanding how beliefs about losing control can lead to the development or maintenance of panic disorder in certain individuals, and if targeting these beliefs in therapy can help improve well-being. It will allow us to better understand the nature and roles of beliefs about losing control in relation to panic disorder and provide us with a better understanding of how people feel when they experience a loss of control of their body's sensations. Overall, these studies have the potential to make impactful contributions to field of psychology by providing a foundation for more effective therapeutic strategies and improving the quality of life for individuals with panic disorder due to negative beliefs or fears about losing control.