Panic provocation in the treatment of agoraphobia: a preliminary investigation.

The efficacy of panic provocation exercises in the treatment of agoraphobia is examined. Twenty six patients with agoraphobia were allocated to a cognitive-behavioural program with and without panic provocation exercises. Both programs significantly reduced symptoms. Despite a trend in favour of panic provocation, differences between treatments failed to reach significance. Results are discussed in terms of a cognitive model of panic and the manner in which future research into panic provocation should be conducted.