INTEROCEPTIVE EXPOSURE VERSUS BREATHING RETRAINING WITHIN COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR PANIC DISORDER WITH AGORAPHOBIA

This study compared two components of a cognitive-behavioural treatmen t for panic disorder. Thirty-eight individuals with panic disorder and agoraphobia were randomly assigned to (a) cognitive restructuring, in teroceptive exposure (i.e. repeated exposure to feared bodily sensatio ns) and in vivo exposure to agoraphobic situations; of (b) cognitive r estructuring, breathing retraining and in vivo exposure to agoraphobic situations. Assessments were conducted at pre-treatment, post-treatme nt and six months later. The treatments were equally effective on many measures. However, treatment that included interoceptive exposure was more effective at post-treatment in terms of panic frequency, overall severity and functioning, and more effective at six-month follow-up i n terms of panic frequency, phobic fears and general anxiety and funct ioning. Follow-up results were limited due to attrition.