Brief cognitive-behavioral versus nondirective therapy for panic disorder.

Thirty panic disorder patients were assigned randomly to four weekly sessions of either cognitive-behavioral therapy or nondirective, supportive therapy. Dependent variables included clinician ratings, standardized self-report questionnaires, and self-monitoring. Cognitive-behavioral therapy led to significant reductions in worry about the recurrence of panic, and in overall ratings of phobic distress. Nondirective supportive therapy did not produce significant effects. In addition, proportionately more patients who were actively panicking at preassessment and underwent cognitive-behavioral treatment were free of panic after treatment. More than one third (38%) of patients who received cognitive-behavioral treatment were sufficiently improved that they withdrew from the pharmacological trial and/or did not meet criteria for panic disorder by the end of the four weeks.