Cognitive mediators of situational fear in agoraphobia.

The aim of this study was to examine cognitive mediators of situational fear in agoraphobia. Patients suffering from panic disorder with moderate or severe agoraphobia were randomly assigned to receive either cognitive therapy or guided mastery therapy in a 6-week inpatient group program. The results were consistent with a self-efficacy model of agoraphobia. Across test occasions, and when the other cognitive variables were controlled for, self-efficacy made a significant contribution to the prediction of situational fear or changes in situational fear in 5 out of 5 cases. Catastrophic beliefs were related to situational fear in 1 of the 5 cases.