title: Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral group therapy for panic disorder in a specialized unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy of cognitive-behavior therapy for panic disorder (PD) with or without agoraphobia is well established, but few data exist on its effectiveness using a group format. The goal of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of group CBT in a sample of PD patients in a specialized unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment consisted of nine weekly group sessions. Patients with PD (n=56) were assessed at baseline, after the treatment and in one and three-months followups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant reductions in panic/agoraphobia symptoms and related variables between baseline and post-treatment, and these reductions were maintained in three-month follow-up. No differences were observed between those patients who received only CBT and those who received pharmacological treatment as well as CBT. Only initial panic/agoraphobia symptoms were significant predictors of treatment response at the end of treatment (a greater severity was associated with a worse response to CBT).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that group CBT in a specialized unit is effective for PD patients.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Addiccions, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prats
authors.affiliation: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.affiliation: Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Addiccions, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosado
authors.affiliation: Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Addiccions, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona Departament de Psiquiatria i de Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
authors.forename: Guillem
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pailhez
authors.affiliation: Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Addiccions, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona Departament de Psiquiatria i de Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulbena
authors.affiliation: Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Addiccions, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona Departament de Psiquiatria i de Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
authors.forename: Miquel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fullana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult