Panic disorder: a clinical perspective on acute treatment and future research needs.
Panic disorder is a common disorder for which there are highly effective treatments. Patients usually present for treatment in acute distress and initially have difficulty responding to cognitive behavioral therapies. In contrast there is a high response rate to pharmacologic treatments. Cognitive behavioral techniques can be helpful in facilitating the taper and eventual discontinuation of medication and may play a role in preventing relapse. The disorder appears to have a chronic course requiring maintenance medication for at least six months. Phobic avoidance appears to be primarily a learned response and is best treated with in vivo desensitization.
Gordon
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Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012106:Research