SELF-DIRECTED VERSUS THERAPIST-DIRECTED COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT FOR PANIC DISORDER

This study investigated two approaches to providing cognitive behavior al therapy for panic disorder: self-directed and therapist-directed. S ixteen individuals with panic disorder were randomly assigned to the t reatment conditions. All participants were provided with a workbook de scribing cognitive-behavioral treatment (Mastery of Your Anxiety and P anic by Barlow & Craske). Therapist-directed participants worked throu gh the material over 12 weekly therapy sessions. Therapists met with s elf-directed participants three times over 12 weeks to assign readings and answer questions. A fourth meeting was devoted to posttreatment a ssessment. Participants in both conditions improved with treatment and maintained their gains at 6-months follow-up. There were no differenc es between the treatment conditions on outcome measures. Forty percent and 28.6% of self-directed and therapist-directed participants, respe ctively, met conservative criteria for high end-state functioning at f ollow-up.