title: Interpersonal problems among patients suffering from panic disorder with agoraphobia before and after treatment.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine interpersonal problems among panic disorder with agoraphobia patients before and after treatment. Patients (N = 46) suffering from panic disorder with moderate or severe agoraphobia and considering agoraphobia as their main problem were randomly assigned to receive either cognitive therapy or guided mastery therapy in a six-week in-patient group programme. The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP) and various symptom measures were administered at pretreatment and at one-year follow-up. Two IIP subscales were derived from factor analysis of the present data: affiliation problems and power problems. The overall pattern of results supported a state model of interpersonal problems. At pre-treatment, the scores on the affiliation problems subscale were clearly related to non-specific state characteristics, that is, to depression and general anxiety. From pre-treatment to follow-up, levels of interpersonal problems decreased significantly. Pre-treatment depression was a powerful predictor of change in interpersonal problems from pre-treatment to one-year follow-up. On the other hand, interpersonal problems at pre-treatment failed to predict the change in levels on various symptom scales.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, Vikersund, Norway.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoffart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D004291:Dominance-Subordination; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011379:Prognosis