Clinical Trial: Effectiveness of Intensive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Treating Adolescent Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Intensive Treatment of Adolescent Panic and Agoraphobia

Brief Summary: This study will evaluate the effectiveness of intensive cognitive behavioral therapy in treating adolescents with panic disorder with agoraphobia.

Detailed Summary:

Panic disorder (PD) in adolescents is a prevalent and chronic anxiety disorder. People with PD experience unexpected attacks of fear, along with elevated heart rate, dizziness, faintness, weakness, and increased sweating. During these panic attacks, people may feel numbness in their hands, flushed or chilled, nauseous, or pain in the chest, and they may lose touch with reality. PD can lead to substantial social impairment for adolescents, including avoidance of school, independent activities, and peer involvement. When PD progresses so far that a person avoids public places where a panic attack might occur, the person is said to have a condition known as agoraphobia. Weekly sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) appear to be effective in treating panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA). However, many adolescents with PDA and their families report the need for a more immediate relief from the disorder. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of intensive CBT in treating adolescents with PDA.

Participants in this single blind study will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions: intensive CBT treatment including family members, intensive CBT treatment without family members, or a waitlist control group. All participants in the intensive CBT treatment groups will undergo 8 days of intensive CBT, for a total of 6 sessions. On Days 1 through 3 of treatment, participants will attend daily, 2-hour CBT sessions. The CBT sessions will include psychoeducation about anxiety, tactics to restructure anxiety-provoking thoughts, and exposure to bodily sensations that trigger panic. On Days 4 and 5, participants will meet with a therapist to learn ways to approach previously feared situations. On Days 6 and 7, participants will continue working independently or with family members to solidify skills. On Day 8, participants will attend a final 2-hour session to consolidate
Sponsor: Boston University

Current Primary Outcome:

  • Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule-Child and Parent Versions: Clinical Severity Rating, Agoraphobia Ratings, Panic Attack Frequency Scores, and Internal Sensation Anxiety Ratings [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Panic Disorder Severity Scale-Child Version [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Fear and Avoidance Hierarchy [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Children's Depression Inventory [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • The Panic Attack Record [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Subjective Symptoms Scale [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Panic and Phobia Questionnaire [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Participant Global Impression of Improvement (PGI) [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Perceptions of Treatment Questionnaire: Adolescent and Parent Versions [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Children's Perception Scale (Locus of Control Scale) [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Stress Index for Parents of Adolescents [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Parenting Locus of Control Scale [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Therapy Attitude Inventory [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Family Assessment Measure (FAM) [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]
  • Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) [ Time Frame: Measured at Months 3, 6, and 12 post-treatment ]


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Boston University

Dates:
Date Received: December 17, 2007
Date Started: March 2005
Date Completion:
Last Updated: February 19, 2014
Last Verified: February 2014