Intensive weekend group treatment for panic disorder and its impact on co-occurring PTSD: A pilot study.
This pilot study examines the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of delivering an intensive weekend group treatment for panic disorder (PD) to Veterans returning from deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan with co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The treatment program lasted 6h each day and was delivered by two experienced therapists. Patients received core components of panic treatment, including psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, and interoceptive exposure. The interoceptive exposure exercises directly targeted anxiety sensitivity, a psychological construct also implicated in the maintenance of PTSD. Eighty-nine percent of patients who expressed interest in the treatment attended a baseline evaluation, and 63% of those who were study eligible initiated treatment. Treatment retention was high, with all 10 patients who initiated treatment completing the program. Veterans reported finding the treatment and delivery format highly acceptable and reported high levels of satisfaction. Panic symptoms improved significantly following the treatment and were maintained at a 7-month follow-up, with 71.4% of the sample reporting being panic free. Co-occurring PTSD symptoms also improved along with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Preliminary findings suggest that brief and intensive group treatments for PD/PTSD are a promising method of delivering cognitive behavioral therapy that may rapidly improve symptoms. This innovative treatment delivery format also may be a cost-effective way of increasing treatment engagement through increased access to quality care.
Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, United States; Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, United States; Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, United States; VA South Central Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, United States. Electronic address: Ellen.Teng@va.gov.
Ellen J
EJ
Teng
Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, United States; Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, United States.
Terri L
TL
Barrera
Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, United States; Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, United States.
Emily L
EL
Hiatt
Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, United States; Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, United States.
Angelic D
AD
Chaison
Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, United States; Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, United States.
Nancy Jo
NJ
Dunn
Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, United States; Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, United States; VA South Central Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, United States.
Nancy J
NJ
Petersen
Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, United States; Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, United States; Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, United States; VA South Central Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, United States.
Melinda A
MA
Stanley
D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology
Cognitive therapy; Intensive treatment; Panic disorder; Stress disorders, Posttraumatic; Veterans