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The efficacy of couples‐based interventions for panic disorder with agoraphobia
Author(s) -
Byrne Michael,
Carr Alan,
Clark Marie
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1467-6427
pISSN - 0163-4445
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-6427.2004.00273.x
Subject(s) - agoraphobia , marital therapy , psychology , psychological intervention , panic disorder , psychotherapist , panic , clinical psychology , intervention (counseling) , psychiatry , anxiety
From this systematic literature review it was concluded that panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA) can sometimes occur in conjunction with marital problems. Couples‐based treatments for PDA – partner‐assisted exposure and marital therapy – can be an effective treatment for the condition. It is as effective as individually based cognitive behaviour therapy. Involving partners of people with PDA in therapy may be appropriate in some cases, particularly those in which there are marital difficulties. Couple‐focused interventions may enhance the maintenance of treatment gains by facilitating interactions that positively reinforce and perpetuate attempts by people with PDA to enter feared situations and cope with these effectively. People with PDA who have good marital relationships show a better response to both individual and couples‐based treatment programmes. In some instances effective couples‐based treatment leads to improvement in marital adjustment as well as in PDA symptomatology.