APPLIED RELAXATION VS COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOR THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF PANIC DISORDER

The present study investigated the efficacy of a coping-technique, app lied relaxation (AR) and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), in the trea tment of panic disorder. Thirty-eight outpatients fulfilling the DSM-I II-R criteria for panic disorder with no (n = 30) or mild (n = 8) avoi dance were assessed with independent assessor ratings, self-report sca les and self-observation of panic attacks before and after treatment, and at a 1-yr follow-up. The patients were treated individually for 12 weekly sessions. The results showed that both treatments yielded very large improvements, which were maintained, or furthered at follow-up. There was no difference between AR and CBT on any measure. The propor tion of panic-free patients were 65 and 74% at post-treatment, and 82 and 89% at follow-up, for AR and CBT, respectively. There were no rela pses at follow-up, on the contrary 55% of the patients who still had p anic attacks at post-treatment were panic-free at follow-up. Besides a ffecting panic attacks the treatments also yielded marked and lasting changes on generalized anxiety, depression and cognitive misinterpreta tions. The conclusion that can be drawn is that both AR and CBT are ef fective treatments for panic disorder without avoidance.