title: Diagnostic comorbidity in panic disorder: effect on treatment outcome and course of comorbid diagnoses following treatment.
abstract: The impact and course of additional diagnoses was examined in 126 patients undergoing cognitive-behavioral treatment for panic disorder. With the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule--Revised, a high comorbidity rate (51%) was observed at pretreatment. Pretreatment comorbidity was not predictive of premature termination, nor did it have a substantial impact on short-term treatment outcome. However, patients with comorbidity at posttreatment were more likely to have sought additional treatment over the follow-up interval. Although a significant and dramatic decline in the overall comorbidity rate was found at posttreatment (17%), at 24-month follow-up this rate had increased to a level (30.2%) that was no longer significantly different from pretreatment. This was despite the fact that patients maintained or improved on treatment gains for panic disorder over this interval. The implications of these findings for the treatment, conceptualization, and classification of emotional disorders are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, University of Albany, State University of New York 12203, USA.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Antony
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Barlow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome