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Effects of three non‐insight‐oriented treatment methods on agoraphobic women suitable for insight‐oriented psychotherapy
Author(s) -
Alström J. E.,
Nordlund C. L.,
Persson G.,
Ljungqvist C.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1984.tb01177.x
Subject(s) - psychotherapist , relaxation therapy , neuroticism , group psychotherapy , agoraphobia , psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , psychiatry , anxiety disorder , anxiety , personality , social psychology
– Twenty‐three agoraphobic women rated suitable for insight‐oriented psychotherapy received one of three randomly assigned non‐insight‐oriented types of treatment for 3 months and the effect was followed up after 9 months. All patients received basal therapy (B) in the form of standardized information, self‐exposure instructions and anxiolytic medication. One group received this treatment only with, monthly appointments. The others, in addition, received either therapist‐directed prolonged exposure in vivo (PE} or relaxation therapy (R). The effects of insight‐oriented psychotherapy could not be studied due to the small numbers in this group. All groups showed clinically relevant improvement, which indicates a favourable prognosis of patients suitable for insight‐oriented psychotherapy irrespective of mode of treatment. However, since the PE group was least improved in some neurotic symptoms and had two treatment drop‐outs and two cases of symptom substitution this mode of treatment cannot be recommended for insight‐suitable patients. R patients came out favourably, which was contrary to the poor outcome with this therapy in patients not suitable for insight‐oriented psychotherapy.