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A randomized controlled study of paroxetine and cognitive‐behavioural therapy for late‐life panic disorder
Author(s) -
Hendriks G.J.,
Keijsers G. P. J.,
Kampman M.,
Oude Voshaar R. C.,
Verbraak M. J. P. M.,
Broekman T. G.,
Hoogduin C. A. L.
Publication year - 2010
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.1600-0447.2009.01517.x
Subject(s) - paroxetine , panic disorder , agoraphobia , panic , randomized controlled trial , psychiatry , psychology , cognitive therapy , cognition , cognitive behavioral therapy , anxiety disorder , clinical psychology , medicine , anxiety , antidepressant
Hendriks G‐J, Keijsers GPJ, Kampman M, Oude Voshaar RC, Verbraak MJPM, Broekman TG, Hoogduin CAL. A randomized controlled study of paroxetine and cognitive‐behavioural therapy for late‐life panic disorder. Objective: To examine the effectiveness of paroxetine and cognitive‐behavioural therapy (CBT) in elderly patients suffering from panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PD(A)). Method: Forty‐nine patients aged 60+ years with confirmed PD(A) were randomly assigned to 40 mg paroxetine, individual CBT, or to a 14‐week waiting list. Outcomes, with avoidance behaviour and agoraphobic cognitions being the primary measures, were assessed at baseline and at weeks 8, 14 (conclusion CBT/waiting list), and at week 26 (treated patients only) and analysed using mixed models. Results: All outcome measures showed that the patients having received CBT and those treated with paroxetine had significantly better improvement compared with those in the waiting‐list condition. With one patient (1/20, 5%) in the CBT and three (3/14, 17.6%) in the paroxetine condition dropping out, attrition rates were low. Conclusion: Patients with late‐life panic disorder respond well to both paroxetine and CBT. Although promising, the outcomes warrant replication in larger study groups.