Panic disorder — DVA SoP factors

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 55 of 2018

At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting panic disorder or death from panic disorder with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

1. (1)
   experiencing a category 1A stressor within the five years before the clinical onset of panic disorder;

   Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

2. (2)
   experiencing a category 1B stressor within the five years before the clinical onset of panic disorder;

   Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

3. (3)
   experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical onset of panic disorder;

   Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

4. (4)
   experiencing the death of a significant other within the ten years before the clinical onset of panic disorder;

   Note: significant other is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

5. (5)
   having a clinically significant disorder of mental health from Specified List 1 within the ten years before the clinical onset of panic disorder;

   Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health from Specified List 1 is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

6. (6)
   having sleep apnoea within the ten years before the clinical onset of panic disorder;
7. (7)
   having a medical illness or injury, which is life-threatening or which results in serious physical or cognitive disability, within the five years before the clinical onset of panic disorder;
8. (8)
   having a severe, chronic medical condition within the five years before the clinical onset of panic disorder;

   Note: severe, chronic medical condition is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

9. (9)
   having concussion or moderate to severe traumatic brain injury within the ten years before the clinical onset of panic disorder;
10. (10)
    having epilepsy at the time of the clinical onset of panic disorder;
11. (11)
    experiencing a category 2 stressor within the five years before the clinical onset of panic disorder;

    Note: category 2 stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

12. (12)
    having migraine within the two years before the clinical onset of panic disorder;
13. (13)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor within the five years before the clinical worsening of panic disorder;

    Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

14. (14)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor within the five years before the clinical worsening of panic disorder;

    Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

15. (15)
    experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical worsening of panic disorder;

    Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

16. (16)
    experiencing the death of a significant other within the ten years before the clinical worsening of panic disorder;

    Note: significant other is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

17. (17)
    having a clinically significant disorder of mental health from Specified List 2 within the ten years before the clinical worsening of panic disorder;

    Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health from Specified List 2 is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

18. (18)
    having sleep apnoea within the ten years before the clinical worsening of panic disorder;
19. (19)
    having a medical illness or injury, which is life-threatening or which results in serious physical or cognitive disability, within the five years before the clinical worsening of panic disorder;
20. (20)
    having a severe, chronic medical condition within the five years before the clinical worsening of panic disorder;

    Note: severe, chronic medical condition is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

21. (21)
    having concussion or moderate to severe traumatic brain injury within the ten years before the clinical worsening of panic disorder;
22. (22)
    having epilepsy at the time of the clinical worsening of panic disorder;
23. (23)
    experiencing a category 2 stressor within the five years before the clinical worsening of panic disorder;

    Note: category 2 stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

24. (24)
    having migraine within the two years before the clinical worsening of panic disorder;
25. (25)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for panic disorder;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(13) to 9(25) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.