Lm. Ito et al., Self-exposure therapy for panic disorder with agoraphobia - Randomised controlled study of external v. interoceptive self-exposure, BR J PSYCHI, 178, 2001, pp. 331-336
Background Exposure to external phobic cues is an effective therapy for pan
ic/agoraphobia but the value of exposure to interoceptive cues is unclear.
Aims Randomised controlled comparison in panic/agoraphobia of the effects o
f (a) external, (b) interoceptive or (c) combined external and interoceptiv
e self-exposure to (d) control subjects.
Method Eighty out-patients were randomised to a control group or to one of
three forms of self-exposure treatment (external, interoceptive. or combine
d). Each treatment included seven sessions over 10 weeks and daily self-exp
osure homework. Assessments were at pre and post-treatment and up to 1 year
post-entry. Assessors remained blind during treatment.
Results The three self-exposure groups improved significantly and similarly
at post-treatment and up to 1-year follow up, and significantly more than
did the control subjects. Rates of improvement on main outcome measures ave
raged 60% at post-treatment and 77% at follow-up.
Conclusions The three methods or self-exposure were equally effective in re
ducing panic and agoraphobic symptoms in the short- and long-term.
Declaration of interest Supported by Fundac (o) over tilde de Amparo a Pesq
uisa do Estado de S (a) over tildeo Paulo (FAPESP).