Group cognitive-behavior therapy for patients failing to respond to pharmacotherapy for panic disorder: a clinical case series

The last decade has brought exciting advances to the treatment of panic dis order and agoraphobia, and a variety of cognitive-behavioral and pharmacolo gic treatment strategies offer clear benefit to patients. Nonetheless, trea tment nonresponse continues to be a chronic problem, and additional strateg ies are needed to aid patients who do not respond fully to initial interven tions. In the present study, we use 'services' research to document the cli nical response of pharmacotherapy nonresponders to a standard program of br ief, group cognitive-behavioral therapy. Patients responded well, regardles s of whether they had received a full, adequate trial of pharmacotherapy. I n addition to its application as an initial treatment for panic disorder, r outine application of cognitive-behavioral therapy in pharmacologic treatme nt algorithms is encouraged, with attention to referral of pharmacotherapy nonresponders to cognitive-behavioral therapy. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Lt d. All rights reserved.