title: Perceived criticism predicts outcome of psychotherapy for panic disorder: Replication and extension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We tested the relation of perceived criticism (PC) from a parent or spouse/romantic partner to outcome of psychotherapy for panic disorder (PD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 130 patients with PD (79% with agoraphobia) who received 24 twice-weekly sessions of panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or applied relaxation therapy. Patients were predominantly White (75%), female (64%), and non-Hispanic (85%). At baseline, Week 5 of treatment, termination, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up, patients rated PC from the relative with whom they lived. Independent evaluators assessed the severity of PD at baseline, Weeks 1, 5, and 9 of treatment, termination, and the 2 follow-up points. Data were analyzed with piecewise (treatment phase, follow-up phase) latent growth curve modeling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The latent intercept for PC at baseline predicted the latent slope for panic severity in the follow-up (p = .04) but not the active treatment phase (p = .50). In contrast, the latent intercept for PD severity at baseline did not predict the latent slope on PC in either phase (ps ≥ .29). Nor did the slopes of PC and PD severity covary across treatment (p = .31) or follow-up (p = .13). Indeed, PC did not change significantly across treatment (p = .45), showing the stability of this perception regardless of significant change in severity of patients' PD (p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because PC predicts worse long-term treatment outcome for PD, study findings argue for interventions to address perceived criticism in treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Dianne L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Chambless
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Allred
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Fang Fang
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Chestnut Hill College.
authors.forename: Kevin S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milrod
authors.affiliation: Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University.
authors.forename: Jacques P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Barber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D064889:Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic / Q000379:methods; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*