Clinical Trial: Cognitive Behavior Psychotherapy in Panic Disorder

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

Official Title: Cognitive-behavioural Therapyin Panic Disorder: the Preparation of Patients With Panic Disorder for Interoceptive and in Vivo Agoraphobic Exposure

Brief Summary: The objective of this study in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) was to demonstrate the preparation of the patient with panic disorder for agoraphobic exposures. The focus of the work consisted of interoceptive exposures, in vivo, of body sensations themselves, to feared places and situations. The sample consisted of 50 individuals. Group 1 undertook 10 weekly, individual sessions of CBT of one hour duration. Group 2, control, was just follow-up with supportive therapy. The procedures used for the exposures, especially for induction symptom exercises, were considered essential in the preparation of patients with panic disorder, to be able to face up to panic attacks and subsequent agoraphobic situations.

Detailed Summary:

The patients with PDA were diagnosed by medical psychiatrists from the team at the Respiration and Panic Laboratory of Instituto de Psiquiatria da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (IPUB/UFRJ), INCT Translational Medicine, according to the criteria of diagnostic of the Manual of Diagnostic and Statistics of Mental Disorder (DSM-IV-TR, 2002b) and according to the evaluation instrument SCID-I (Structured Clinical Interview Diagnostic) (First et al, 1997). The sample consisted of 50 voluntary patients divided in two Groups. The 1st Group, made up of 25 individuals, received 10 sessions of CBT. The 2nd Group, "control", also consisted of 25 patients, who received just supportive psychotherapy.

With a view to comparing the results of the Groups after the interventions, the following evaluation instruments were applied at the beginning and at the end of the research: Beck Anxiety Inventory (Beck et al, 1998a); State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberg et al, 1970); Sheehan Disability Scale (Sheeham, 1983a); Global Assessment of Functioning (AXIS V) (DSM-IV-TR, 2002c); questionnaire of fears and phobias (Mark & Mathews, 1979); questionnaire of cognitive agoraphobias( Chambless, 1984a); questionnaire of body sensations (Chambless, 1984b) and Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (Bandelow, 1999a).

The criteria for inclusion in the research was patients over 18 years old of both sexes with a diagnosis of PDA, with no serious comorbidities. The patients that presented alcohol or drug dependency, mental retardation or serious mental disorders were excluded from the research.

The patients who agreed to participate in the study, signed a "Term of Free and Clarified Consent" and were made aware of all the procedures undertaken, approved by the Committee of Ethics for th
Sponsor: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Current Primary Outcome: Number of panic attacks [ Time Frame: 3 months ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: Decrease agoraphobic symptoms [ Time Frame: 3 months ]

Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Dates:
Date Received: December 3, 2009
Date Started: May 2006
Date Completion:
Last Updated: January 29, 2010
Last Verified: December 2009