Author:
Botella Cristina,García-Palacios Azucena
Abstract
This study compares the
effectiveness of a standard cognitive-behavioural treatment for panic disorder with a reduced
therapist contact program supported by self-help materials. This program shortens the total therapy
length (from 10 to 5 weeks) and the contact time with the therapist (from 10 to 5 sessions). The
sample was mostly referred from a public mental health unit, and it had a low level of education
(average of 9.7 years). The subjects were assessed according to several variables related with panic
disorder at pre- and post-test, and at 12-month follow-up. The results demonstrated that both programs
produced significant improvements for all variables at post-test, the benefits were maintained at
follow-up assessment, and even heightened for some of the measures. Also, both treatment programs
obtained comparable improvements for most measures. These results suggest that the programs that
reduce the contact with the therapist, supported by self-help materials, and shorten the time that
the patient suffers from this problem (Margraf, Barlow, Clark, & Telch, 1993) may be a good
intervention for the treatment of panic disorder. These programs can help to overcome some of the
cost-benefit therapeutic limitations of standard cognitive-behavioural programs.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Subject
Clinical Psychology,General Medicine
Cited by
18 articles.
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