title: A randomized study of massed three-week cognitive behavioural therapy schedule for panic disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of massed vs. spaced group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine PD patients were randomly assigned to massed group CBT (daily 4-h sessions in week 1, two 2-h sessions in week 2 and one 2-h session in week 3) or traditional spaced weekly group CBT (13 consecutive, weekly 2-h sessions). The content and number of hours in the two treatment schedules were identical. Outcome was assessed after treatment, and at 3, 6 and 18 months of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both treatment groups achieved significant improvement on all measures with large pre- to post-treatment and pre-treatment to follow-up effect sizes. No between-group differences were registered. Adherence and patient satisfaction did not differ between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The massed, 3-week group CBT schedule proved to be effective and feasible for PD patients with outcomes comparable with that of standard, spaced group CBT.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for OCD, Aarhus University Hospital, 8240 Risskov, Denmark.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bohni
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spindler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arendt
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hougaard
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome