Effects of three non-insight-oriented treatment methods on agoraphobic women suitable for insight-oriented psychotherapy.
Twenty-three agoraphobic women rated suitable for insight-oriented psychotherapy received one of three randomly assigned non-insight-oriented types of treatment for 3 months and the effect was followed up after 9 months. All patients received basal therapy (B) in the form of standardized information, self-exposure instructions and anxiolytic medication. One group received this treatment only with monthly appointments. The others, in addition, received either therapist-directed prolonged exposure in vivo (PE) or relaxation therapy (R). The effects of insight-oriented psychotherapy could not be studied due to the small numbers in this group. All groups showed clinically relevant improvement, which indicates a favourable prognosis of patients suitable for insight-oriented psychotherapy irrespective of mode of treatment. However, since the PE group was least improved in some neurotic symptoms and had two treatment drop-outs and two cases of symptom substitution this mode of treatment cannot be recommended for insight-suitable patients. R patients came out favourably, which was contrary to the poor outcome with this therapy in patients not suitable for insight-oriented psychotherapy.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000628:therapy*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012944:Social Support
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents