title: [Group psychotherapy in patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia].
abstract: The one-year supportive group-psychotherapy (3 groups with 8-9 patients) was carried out once-weekly by two therapists in 26 patients who met the DSM-III-R criteria for panic disorder and agoraphobia. Patients filled in various ratings at the beginning and at the end of the therapy and a visual analog scale before as well as after each session. Twelve months after the end of the group-therapy the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation (LIFE) was carried out. During the group-psychotherapy panic sensations, anxiety, nervousness and fears as well as psychosocial disability decreased. Duration of illness affected the reduction of panic sensations, anxiety, nervousness and fears during the first 6 months of the group-psychotherapy. Phobic fears and avoidance behavior mostly improved in patients with a duration of illness of more than 5 years and an additional depressive disorder. At the one-year follow-up 80% of panic patients without depressive disorder were symptom-free and reported better partner-relationships, more satisfaction, and a better social adjustment compared with panic patients with concomitant depressive disorders.
authors.affiliation: Bezirkskrankenhaus Haar, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scheibe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albus
authors.forename: A U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmauss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*
vernacular_title: Gruppenpsychotherapie bei Patienten mit Panikstörung und Agoraphobie.