A PRELIMINARY-STUDY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS WITH AGORAPHOBIA - SYMPTOM SEVERITY AND OUTCOME OF TREATMENT WITH IN-VIVO EXPOSURE

Eighteen African American and 57 White agoraphobic outpatients were co mpared on symptom severity. The groups did not differ on severity of d epression or fear of fear, or on frequency of panic attacks. However, Black clients were more severely phobic than White clients on self-rep ort, assessor, and behavioral measures. Forty-three White and 15 Black clients provided posttest data after treatment with in vivo exposure. Both Black and White clients improved, but Black clients remained mor e severe at treatment's end on measures of phobia and changed somewhat less with treatment on these variables. Differences were generally le ss evident at follow-up, but African Americans did show less change on frequency of panic attacks and on one measure of avoidance.