PATTERNS OF CHANGE DURING COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT FOR PANIC DISORDER

The present investigation examined patterns of change in basic feature s of panic and anxiety during cognitive behavioral treatment for panic disorder. Data were collected in the context of a study comparing the efficacy of cognitive therapy (CT) and relaxation training, both admi nistered without exposure-based treatments of any kind. Thirty-six pan ic disorder patients completed 10 weeks of either CT or relaxation tra ining. Weekly measures of panic frequency, state and trait anxiety, an d associated fears were obtained. Data were examined using both multiv ariate techniques (which conceptualize change as incremental) and anal ysis of response slopes (wherein change is conceptualized as continuou s). Results indicated that during the first half of treatment, relaxat ion training led to greater reductions in state and trait anxiety and agoraphobic fear, whereas CT demonstrated a slight advantage on change in panic frequency. During the second half of treatment, CT produced faster reductions in state anxiety and agoraphobic fears. Over the ent ire treatment course, CT conferred an advantage in rate of change in s ocial fears. The data provide support for the utility of a more proces s-oriented approach to the examination of treatment effects.