COGNITIVE BIAS IN PANIC DISORDER PATIENTS AND CHANGES AFTER COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL TREATMENTS

The aim of this study was to investigate cognitive biases in panic dis order patients via a questionnaire originally developed by Clark and c o-workers [Clark, Salkovskis, Gelder, Koehler, Martin, Anastasiades, H ackman, Middleton & Jeavons, (1988). In Hand, I. and Wittchen, H.-U. ( Eds) Panic and Phobias 2] to assess interpretations of ambiguous inter nal (bodily sensations) and external events. The results showed that, compared to normal controls, panic disorder patients interpreted bodil y sensations in a more threatening fashion, while there was no differe nce concerning external events. Cognitive-behavioral treatments normal ized this bias, and Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Applied Relaxation were equally effective in this respect. Moreover, compared to panickin g patients, panic-free patients had reduced their cognitive threat bia s at post-treatment and follow-up to a significantly larger extent. Th e results support the cognitive theory of panic disorder.