CATASTROPHIC COGNITIONS IN PANIC DISORDER WITH AND WITHOUT AGORAPHOBIA

The cognitive models of panic disorder with (PDA) or without (PD) agor aphobia are now widely recognised. These models propose that patients misinterpret external or internal cues in a catastrophic manner and as a result of these catastrophic cognitions the symptoms are maintained There is now a large body of empirical evidence for this proposal and the aim of this paper is to systematically review the literature to e valuate whether the empirical evidence supports the contribution of ca tastrophic cognitions to PD and PDA. Empirical studies using different methodologies, such as interview, questionnaire, self-monitoring anal in vivo techniques are reviewed. The results indicate there is substa ntial empirical evidence in support of the central role of catastrophi c cognition in cognitive models. Different methodologies provided conv ergent support for the importance of catastrophic cognitions in the ma intenance of panic disorder and agoraphobia. Limitations in the interp retation of the existing research are highlighted and future research directions are proposed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.