"There was a panic reaction, people fear a scandal like Enron or Parmalat as soon as they hear the term 'accounting problems', " said investment analyst Thomas Veillet of Swiss firm Dynacapital.
Two computer programmes have been approved for use in the NHS - Fear Fighter for treating people who have phobias or suffer from panic attacks, and Beating the Blues for treating people with mild to moderate depression.
Each crunch of the jaws sent a wave of agony through my body and I began to panic, a deep vomit-inducing fear the like of which I have never experienced, or hope to again.