‘Panic attack’ web searches soaring

Internet searches for the phrase “panic attack” soared to record levels at the start of the coronavirus crisis, reveals new research.

The discovery has raised fears that the Covid-19 pandemic could trigger a mental health crisis.

A new study led by Dr John Ayers and Dr Alicia Nobles, of the University of California San Diego (UCSD), found evidence of a “record high” in potential anxiety attacks or panic attacks through Google searches.

The research team analysed Google search queries that mentioned “panic attack” or “anxiety attack” emerging from the US from 2004 through to 9 May 9 this year. These included queries like “am I having a panic attack?,” or “anxiety attack symptoms”.

The team studied anxiety attacks because they are a common mental health problem, can lead to other mental health problems such as depression, and are triggered by outside stressors, and – especially relevant during a pandemic – are socially contagious.