A pilot study of two-day cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder.

Abstract

The present study investigated the short-term efficacy of brief, intensive cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for panic disorder (PD). The treatment involved 9h of therapist contact over two consecutive days and was developed for the purpose of delivering CBT for PD to a largely rural patient population that must travel long distances to find a treatment provider. Ten patients who elected to participate in brief, intensive CBT instead of weekly CBT were recruited from routine clinical practice in a hospital-based anxiety disorders clinic. Patients were not excluded based on the presence of agoraphobia, diagnostic comorbidity, concurrent use of PRN benzodiazepine medications, or previous nonresponse to psychotherapy for PD. Assessments conducted at pre-treatment and 1-month follow-up revealed large, clinically significant reductions in PD symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, body vigilance, and anxiety and depressive symptoms. Most patients (60%) were panic-free after treatment and evidenced normative levels of symptomatology at follow-up. The present study suggests that brief, intensive treatment may be an effective means of delivering CBT for PD.

• Authors: Brett Deacon, Jonathan Abramowitz
• Journal: Behaviour research and therapy (Behav Res Ther) Vol. 44 Issue 6 Pg. 807-17 (Jun 2006) ISSN: 0005-7967 [Print] England
• PMID: 16084488 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (methods)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Panic Disorder (therapy)
• Pilot Projects
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Psychometrics
• Psychotherapy, Brief (methods)
• Treatment Outcome