title: Intensive behavioral therapy for agoraphobia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the efficacy of an intensive 1-week behavioral therapy program focusing on agoraphobia for panic disorder patients with agoraphobia (PDA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study design was a case-control study. Main outcome measure was the agoraphobia score of the Fear Questionnaire (FQ-AGO). The outcomes on the FQ-AGO of a 1-week intensive therapy (96 patients) and a twice-weekly therapy (98 patients) were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Agoraphobia improved significantly in both groups, 1 week and 3 months after therapy. Effect size for changes in the 1-week intensive therapy on the FQ-AGO was 0.75.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limitations are use of antidepressants, no placebo group, and no long term follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Behavioral therapy for agoraphobia can be shortened significantly if intensified without affecting therapy outcome, thus allowing patients a more rapid return to work and resumption of daily activities.
authors.affiliation: Mondriaan Mental Health Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Research School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. Electronic address: i.knuts@pn.unimaas.nl.
authors.forename: Inge J E
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Knuts
authors.affiliation: Research School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esquivel
authors.affiliation: Mondriaan Mental Health Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Research School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Thea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Overbeek
authors.affiliation: Mondriaan Mental Health Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Research School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Center for Experimental and Learning Psychology, Leuven University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Koen R J
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Schruers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015897:Comorbidity; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic / Q000379:methods; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: Agoraphobia; Behavioral therapy; Expanding-spaced exposure; Intensive exposure therapy; Massed-exposure therapy; Panic disorder