If this is not your name, click here.
| | If this is not your name, click here. | | |
| | Contact Us | Order Now | Journals | Bookstore | Register a colleague | | |
| |  Intensive Weekend Treatment May Work for Veterans Returning With Panic Disorder: Presented at ADAA By Liz Meszaros BALTIMORE, Md -- March 8, 2010 -- Intensive treatment done on a weekend format may be effective for veterans with panic disorder, especially in those who do not want to partake in longer therapy administered over several months, according to a study presented here at the Anxiety Disorders Association of America 30th Annual Conference (ADAA). “Military personnel returning to the United States after deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan come back with high rates of anxiety disorder,” said Ellen Teng, PhD, the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas, on March 5. “Further, estimates indicate that roughly one-third of newly returning veterans with an anxiety-related problem suffer from panic disorder.” Subjects were recruited from Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom enrolled in the Trauma Recovery Program at the Houston VA. All had refused standard cognitive-behavioural treatment for panic disorder, which was to last 10 weeks. They agreed to participate in an intensive weekend workshop program. All individuals (n = 10; mean age, 28.8 years) had a current diagnosis of panic disorder. Sixty percent were Caucasian, 30% Hispanic, and 10% African American. Excluded were veterans with bipolar disorder or psychosis, suicidal or homicidal ideation or intent, severe depression, panic attacks only related to specific phobias or medical conditions that mimic anxiety symptoms. Individuals received Panic Control Treatment (Barlow & Craske, 1994) in an intensive weekend format, delivered by 2 psychologists. They were divided into small groups of 3 to 4 patients. Sessions included educational sessions on the causes of panic and its treatment, breathing retraining, individualised fear assessment, facing situations, overcoming agoraphobia, and relapse prevention. Immediate symptom improvements were seen, with lasting gains made until the 6-month follow-up. At follow-up, anxiety levels were significantly lower (P = .001), as were depression levels (P = .01). The subjects reported their satisfaction with the intensive weekend program, and found it acceptable. “The weekend format is a potentially effective treatment, especially for returning veterans with panic disorder,” concluded Dr. Teng. “This format provides a portable treatment that can be delivered to underserved patient populations.” [Presentation title: An Intensive Weekend Treatment for Veterans With Panic Disorder. Abstract 50]
|
