Yes, panic attacks have been reported throughout history, well before the 1970s. Panic attacks are not a new phenomenon, and accounts of similar experiences can be found in historical records and literature dating back centuries.
Descriptions of panic attacks have been documented in various cultures and historical periods under different names or interpretations. For example, in ancient times, panic attacks were sometimes associated with spiritual or supernatural causes. People might have referred to such experiences as "nervous disorders," "fits," or "hysteria," depending on the cultural context.
The modern understanding of panic attacks as a distinct psychological phenomenon emerged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sigmund Freud and other early psychologists started exploring and discussing anxiety and panic-related symptoms, laying the groundwork for the contemporary concept of panic disorder.
In the 1960s and 1970s, there was a significant increase in the awareness and recognition of panic attacks and panic disorder in the medical community. Various researchers and clinicians contributed to better understanding the condition, leading to improved diagnostic criteria and treatment options.
So, while the formal recognition and study of panic attacks as a specific psychological condition might have gained prominence in the 20th century, the experiences that we now associate with panic attacks have existed in human history for much longer.