A comparison of delivery methods of cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder: an international multicenter trial.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the psychological treatment of choice for panic disorder (PD). However, given limited access to CBT, it must be delivered with maximal cost-effectiveness. Previous researchers have found that a brief computer-augmented CBT was as effective as extended therapist-delivered CBT. To test this finding, this study randomly allocated 186 patients with PD across 2 sites in Scotland and Australia to 12 sessions of therapist-delivered CBT (CBT12), 6 sessions of therapist-delivered (CBT6) or computer-augmented CBT (CBT6-CA), or a waitlist control. On a composite measure, at posttreatment, the outcome for CBT 12 was statistically better than the outcome for CBT6. The outcome for CBT6-CA fell between CBT12 and CBT6, but could not be statistically distinguished from either treatment. The active treatments did not differ statistically at 6-month follow-up. The study provided some support for the use of computers as an innovative adjunctive-therapy tool and merits further investigation.
Kenardy
Justin A
JA
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. kenardy@psy.uq.edu.au
Dow
Michael G T
MG
Johnston
Derek W
DW
Newman
Michelle G
MG
Thomson
Aileen
A
Taylor
C Barr
CB
D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D012984:Software; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted