Depression, mastery and number of group sessions attended predict outcome of patients with panic and agoraphobia in a behavioural/medication program.

From a list of 214 patients suffering from panic and agoraphobia and who had been treated with cognitive behaviour therapy, 30 patients who had very good outcomes and 32 who had poor outcomes were selected. The groups were selected by the nurse therapist and psychiatrist on the basis of personal knowledge of the patients. The distinction into good and poor outcome groups was confirmed by the results of a follow-up questionnaire completed by the patient. Of several clinical and demographic variables which had been hypothesized to be predictors of outcome, only depression, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory, mastery, as measured by the Pearlin Mastery Scale and the number of group therapy sessions attended predicted outcome. Levels of depression and mastery might be clinically modifiable variables which affect the outcome of treatment for patients with panic and agoraphobia.