Short- and Long-Term Effectiveness of an Empirically Supported Treatment for Agoraphobia

This study examined the effectiveness of individual high-density exposure (2-3 weeks, all day) for panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDAG). Participants were 416 unselected patients with a primary diagnosis of PDAG who were treated by 52 therapists in 3 outpatient clinics of the Christoph-Dornier Fou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of consulting and clinical psychology 2001-06, Vol.69 (3), p.375-382
Main Authors: Hahlweg, Kurt, Fiegenbaum, Wolfgang, Frank, Monika, Schroeder, Brigitte, von Witzleben, Ines
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia - psychology
Agoraphobia - therapy
Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy
Biological and medical sciences
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behaviour therapy
Comorbidity
Desensitization, Psychologic
Effectiveness
Empiricism
Exposure Therapy
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Human
Humans
In vivo flooding
Male
Medical sciences
Mental health
Middle Aged
Neuroses
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Outpatient
Panic attacks
Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder - psychology
Panic Disorder - therapy
Panic disorders
Psychiatric Symptoms
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Therapy
Treatment Effectiveness Evaluation
Treatment Outcomes
Treatments
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Summary:This study examined the effectiveness of individual high-density exposure (2-3 weeks, all day) for panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDAG). Participants were 416 unselected patients with a primary diagnosis of PDAG who were treated by 52 therapists in 3 outpatient clinics of the Christoph-Dornier Foundation of Clinical Psychology in Germany. Results 6 weeks after the end of therapy and at the 1-year follow-up showed highly significant reductions in anxiety symptoms, anxious cognition, agoraphobic avoidance, general symptomatology, and depressive symptoms. Results did not differ significantly between the 3 outpatient clinics and are comparable with the average effect sizes reported by meta-analytic studies of controlled efficacy research, using selected patients and specifically trained therapists. Effectiveness was not dependent on duration of disorder, number of treatment sessions, and therapist experience. The study suggests that high-density exposure can be transported from research settings to the mental health field.
ISSN:0022-006X
1939-2117
DOI:10.1037/0022-006X.69.3.375