REDUCED THERAPIST CONTACT IN THE COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT OF PANIC DISORDER

This study compared the effectiveness of two cognitive behavioral ther apy programs for panic disorder: One involved reduced therapist contac t; the other was entirely therapist directed. Subjects were 21 adults who met the DSM-III-R criteria for panic disorder. They were treated o ver a 17-week period. Measures of frequency and apprehension of panic attacks, measures of perceived self-efficacy at controlling panic atta cks and measures of agoraphobic symptomatology were obtained at pretes t and posttest and at 6-month and 12-month follow-ups. Results demonst rated that both treatment procedures produced significant and comparab le improvements on all of the outcome measures that were maintained or furthered at follow-ups. Over 73% of patients in each condition were panic-free and clinically improved at 6-month follow-up. The reduced t herapist contact treatment was found to be more therapist-time efficie nt, especially when long-term treatment benefits were considered. The present findings suggest that cognitive behavior therapy with reduced therapist contact may be a viable, therapist-time-efficient alternativ e for the treatment of panic disorder.