Two-year follow-up after a randomised controlled trial of self- and clinician-accompanied exposure for phobia/panic disorders

Background Long-term follow-up has rarely been reported after self-exposure therapy for phobias. Aims Completion of such a follow-up. Method Two-year follow-up was achieved in 68 (85%) of 80 patients with phob ias who had completed a previous 14-week randomised controlled trial compar ing therapist-accompanied self-exposure, self-exposure or self-relaxation. Measures were self-reported ratings of symptoms, satisfaction and use of ot her treatment. Results Improvement at week 14 was maintained 2 years later Clinician-accom panied exposure and self-exposure did not differ on any measure. Compliance with self-exposure homework during weeks 0-8 predicted more improvement 2 years later. Patients who failed to improve with relaxation by week 14 impr oved after subsequent crossover to exposure. A need for more treatment for their phobias was still felt by 33 patients (49%). Conclusions Patients with phobias maintained their improvement to 2-year fo llow-up after the end of self exposure therapy. Declaration of interest None.