EFFICACY OF A BRIEF PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENT FOR PANIC DISORDER IN AN ACTIVE-DUTY SAMPLE - IMPLICATIONS FOR MILITARY READINESS

Objective: The efficacy of a brief cognitive-behavioral treatment for panic in military personnel was evaluated. Method: Active duty militar y patients (N = 37) presenting at outpatient psychiatry and psychology clinics were randomly assigned to immediate or delayed treatment cond itions. All patients met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental D isorders criteria for a primary diagnosis of panic disorder with or wi thout agoraphobia. Results: At posttreatment, 80% of the immediate tre atment group, compared to 0% of the delayed treatment group, met recov ery criteria on all major clinical facets of panic disorder (i.e., pan ic attacks, panic-related worry, phobic avoidance). At follow-up, 75% of the treated group continued to meet recovery criteria, suggesting m aintenance of treatment gains. A majority of those patients (58%) taki ng benzodiazepines at the start of treatment were successfully discont inued by posttreatment. Conclusions: Brief, skill-based treatments for panic disorder are effective for a majority of active duty personnel. These treatments may also improve military readiness by facilitating benzodiazepine discontinuation.