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Psychoeducation in panic disorder patients: effect of a self‐information booklet in a randomized, masked‐rater study
Author(s) -
Dan P.N.,
Iancu I.,
Grunhaus L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.10063
Subject(s) - psychoeducation , panic , paroxetine , panic disorder , anxiety , psychiatry , psychology , anxiety disorder , randomized controlled trial , physical therapy , medicine , clinical psychology , intervention (counseling) , antidepressant
The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a self‐information booklet (SIB) in decreasing anxiety and panic attacks in Panic Disorder (PD) patients. Eighty‐four patients attending an outpatient clinic due to panic disorder were randomly chosen to receive paroxetine with/without a friendly‐designed brochure. Follow‐up was done by a masked rater after 1, 3,and 12 weeks in order to evaluate whether the co‐administration of paroxetine and the brochure (Group A) had a beneficial effect over the administration of paroxetine alone (Group B). After 3 weeks of therapy, Group A patients had significantly greater improvement and lower scores on the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, the Panic Self Questionnaire, and the Visual Analog Scale. After 12 weeks, the differential improvement was not statistically significant and both groups had improved as compared to baseline. The administration of a psychoeducational brochure (SIB) to PD patients at the initiation of therapy had beneficial effects during the first weeks of treatment. Although this effect fades away, the role of the SIB is overstressed in its ability to increase well being and compliance, and reduce anxiety and panic attacks. Depression and Anxiety 16:71–76, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.