PATIENT DROPOUT FROM A COUPLES GROUP TREATMENT FOR PANIC DISORDER WITH AGORAPHOBIA

This study examined premature termination from couples' group treatmen t for panic disorder with agoraphobia. Patients were classified as eit her treatment noncompleters or treatment completers. Comparisons of pr etreatment self-report and clinician-rated measures of anxiety and dep ression indicated no differences between groups. On communication meas ures, however, partners of noncompleters rated themselves as less comm unicative about panic-related issues. Of noncompleters, the majority r eported ''getting to treatment sessions'' as problematic and indicated dissatisfaction with the cognitive-behavioral treatment approach. Res ults are discussed in terms of these issues and their impact on the tr eatment of these patients.