What disorder involves excessive nervousness and fear, including panic attacks?

Anxiety disorders encompass a range of conditions characterized by excessive nervousness, fear, and apprehension. This category includes experiences such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. The mention of panic attacks specifically points towards a type of anxiety disorder, namely panic disorder, where individuals experience recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, leading to further anxiety about the potential for future attacks.

While phobias can also induce significant fear, they are typically associated with specific objects or situations rather than the broader spectrum of nervousness. Psychotic disorders primarily involve disruptions in thought processes and perceptions, including conditions such as schizophrenia but do not focus on anxiety. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, rather than general anxiety and fear. Therefore, the characterization of excessive nervousness and fear, along with panic attacks, aligns closely with the definition of anxiety disorders.