A bibliotherapy approach to relapse prevention in individuals with panic attacks

The present study examined a relapse prevention (RP) program delivered via bibliotherapy in the treatment of individuals with panic attacks. Compared with a wait list control group, individuals receiving RP exhibited signific ant reductions on measures of frequency of panic attacks, panic cognitions, anticipatory anxiety, avoidance, and depression. In addition, individuals in the RP group were more likely to attain a "clinically significant change " in status on both panic-free status and level of avoidance more frequentl y than individuals in the control group. When compared with treatment effec ts evaluated in two prior phases of the study, the obtained results appear to be the product of a synchronous effect of bibliotherapy and minimal phon e contact during the 6-month follow-up period. The results reflect the impo rtance of brief therapist contact in increasing motivation for active parti cipation in bibliotherapy interventions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.