[Cognitive-behavioral group treatment of panic attacks disorder: a description of the results obtained in a public mental health service].

OBJECTIVE

This article describes the short-term and at 6 months follow-up results of an intensive cognitive-behavioural group treatment on subjects affected by Panic Disorder with or without Agoraphobia (DSM IV criteria).

DESIGN AND

SETTING

We studied a group of 22 subjects treated in the public Centro Psico Sociale of Zogno (Bergamo) and valuated them with self-rated instruments inherent the life satisfaction (SF/36) and symptoms andament (PAAAS; MSPS, STAI-X1, STAI-X2). The results indicate significant improvements at the end of treatment and at a 6 months follow up.

CONCLUSIONS

We are studying the long-term results with others follow up valuations. The most important results, anyway, is the demonstration that also in an Italian public mental health centre, as in many foreign countries, is possible to treat patients affected by Anxiety Disorders with effectual and relatively low cost techniques and that is possible to introduce objective results indicators in the routinary clinical activity.