A concept analysis of panic

Abstract

Minimal attention has been focused on the concept of panic in the discipline of nursing. Hindering a greater understanding of panic is its lack of explication and development in nursing. To help remedy this situation, a concept analysis of panic was performed. The hybrid model of concept development was used, which consists of an initial theoretical phase, a fieldwork phase, and a final analytical phase. In the theoretical phase, after a cross-disciplinary literature search was done, existing definitions and measurement of the concept of panic were analyzed, and a working definition of panic was formulated. In the fieldwork phase, women experiencing postpartum panic disorder were interviewed to collect qualitative data for further analysis of panic. The final phase focused on comparing and contrasting the findings from the theoretical phase with the insights discovered from the fieldwork. Applicability of panic across nursing is addressed along with implications for nursing theory, practice, and research.