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Cognitive‐Behavioral group treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobia
Author(s) -
Galassi Ferdinando,
Quercioli Silvia,
Charismas Diana,
Niccolai Valentina,
Barciulli Elisabetta
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.20358
Subject(s) - agoraphobia , panic disorder , psychology , panic , cognition , cognitive restructuring , clinical psychology , cognitive therapy , cognitive behavioral therapy , psychiatry , psychotherapist , anxiety
Cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT) is well documented in the treatment of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia; however, little is known about the efficacy of group treatment. The purpose of this open study is to investigate the benefits of a combination of the major cognitive and behavioral techniques used in the several specific versions of CBT thus far developed, in a psychotherapeutic group approach for panic and agoraphobia. Seventy‐six outpatients meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , third edition, revised (DSM‐III‐R; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) criteria for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia were included in the study. The treatment consisted of 14 weekly 2‐hr group sessions and included: (a) an educational component, (b) interoceptive exposure, (c) cognitive restructuring, (d) problem solving, and (e) in vivo exposure. Patients achieved significant treatment gains on all dimensions assessed with a high rate of panic remission and significant improvement in the associated symptoms. Furthermore, these gains were maintained at 6‐months' follow‐up. Our results suggest the feasibility of this combination of cognitive and behavioral techniques. The findings raise questions about the specificity and the impact of each technique. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 63: 409–416, 2007.