Self-exposure therapy for panic disorder with agoraphobia: randomised controlled study of external v. interoceptive self-exposure.
BACKGROUND
Exposure to external phobic cues is an effective therapy for panic/agoraphobia but the value of exposure to interoceptive cues is unclear.


OBJECTIVE
Randomised controlled comparison in panic/agoraphobia of the effects of (a) external, (b) interceptive or (c) combined external and interoceptive self-exposure to (d) control subjects.


METHODS
Eighty out-patients were randomised to a control group or to one of three forms of self-exposure treatment (external, interoceptive, or combined). Each treatment included seven sessions over 10 weeks and daily self-exposure homework. Assessments were at pre- and post-treatment and up to 1 year post-entry. Assessors remained blind during treatment.


RESULTS
The three self-exposure groups improved significantly and similarly at post-treatment and up to 1-year followup, and significantly more than did the control subjects. Rates of improvement on main outcome measures averaged 60% at post-treatment and 77% at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The three methods of self-exposure were equally effective in reducing panic and agoraphobic symptoms in the short- and long-term.
Ito
L M
LM
Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, Cep 05403-010, São Paulo, Brazil.
de Araujo
L A
LA
Tess
V L
VL
de Barros-Neto
T P
TP
Asbahr
F R
FR
Marks
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016312:Treatment Refusal