Psychological well-being and residual symptoms in remitted patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about psychological well-being in remitted patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia and its interactions with residual symptoms.


METHODS
Thirty patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia who displayed a successful response to exposure therapy, and 30 control subject matched for sociodemographic variables, were administered both observer-rated and self-rated scales for assessing residual symptoms and well-being.


RESULTS
Patients had significantly more residual symptoms -- as assessed by the Clinical Interview for Depression (CID) and the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ) -- than controls. They also had significantly less environmental mastery, personal growth, purpose in life and self-acceptance -- as measured by the Psychological Well-being Scales (PWB) -- and less SQ physical well-being than controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings apply to patients with panic disorders who had been treated by behavioral methods and may be different in drug-treated subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that successful reduction of symptomatology in panic disorder cannot be equated to a pervasive recovery (encompassing psychological well-being) and may pave the way for sequential therapeutic strategies of more enduring quality.
Fava
G A
GA
Affective Disorders Program and Laboratory of Experimental Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bolgna, Italy.
Rafanelli
C
C
Ottolini
F
F
Ruini
C
C
Cazzaro
M
M
Grandi
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D012649:Self Concept; D016896:Treatment Outcome