Agoraphobia With and Without Panic Disorder: A 20-Year Follow-up of Integrated Exposure and Psychodynamic Therapy

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2016 Feb;204(2):100-7. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000419.

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to compare the 20-year outcome in panic disorder with agoraphobia (PD with AG) and agoraphobia without panic disorder (AG without PD) patients after inpatient psychological treatment. Of 53 eligible patients having completed a medication-free integrated exposure and psychodynamic treatment, 38 (71.7%)-25 PD with AG and 13 AG without PD patients-attended 20-year follow-up. AG without PD patients improved less than PD with AG patients did on primary outcome measures. In the PD with AG group, there were large uncontrolled effect sizes (<-2.30). More of the AG without PD patients had avoidant personality disorder at pretreatment, but the presence of this disorder did not predict outcome. The follow-up results support that PD with AG and AG without PD are two different disorders. The results also suggest that the very long-term outcome in PD with AG patients is excellent for this integrated treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Agoraphobia / complications
  • Agoraphobia / psychology
  • Agoraphobia / therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Implosive Therapy / methods*
  • Male
  • Panic Disorder / complications
  • Panic Disorder / psychology
  • Panic Disorder / therapy*
  • Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome