Research Spotlight: Panic Disorder
Psychology Tools
Published
01 Jun 2024
Staying current with psychological research and best practice is essential for delivering effective care. Our 'Research Spotlight' articles offer clear summaries of recent studies, helping you stay informed.
Cognitive change before sudden gains in cognitive behavioral therapy for panic disorder
Are rapid improvements in panic symptoms important during therapy? This study investigated sudden gains in panic disorder treatment and their relationship with cognitive changes. Analyzing data from 53 participants undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), it revealed that 42% experienced sudden gains, leading to significant post-treatment improvements. Interestingly, these gains were linked to preceding cognitive changes, supporting the cognitive model of panic disorder. These results highlight the importance of addressing catastrophic cognitions early in therapy and the need for further exploration into sudden gains in psychotherapy.
[Findings are] consistent with clinical experience where catastrophic cognitions are often identified and addressed early in CBT for panic disorder and patients are often relieved to learn an alternative explanation for their panic-related symptoms. A possible clinical implication of the study is therefore that an early focus on catastrophic cognitions is effective.
Lee, R., McMillan, D., Delgadillo, J., Alexander, R., & Lucock, M. (2024). Cognitive change before sudden gains in cognitive behavioural therapy for panic disorder. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 52 (2), 107–118. doi:10.1017/S1352465823000449
Can fear of bodily symptoms be learned through observation?
Can fear of bodily symptoms be learned by observing others? This study explored whether watching someone react fearfully to bodily symptoms can cause similar fears in observers. The results suggest that fear of bodily symptoms can indeed be learned, highlighting the role observational learning may play in the development of panic disorders. These findings suggest new directions for therapy, such as using safety information and modeling to counteract learned fears, and underscore the importance of considering observational influences when treating panic disorders.
Taken together, our findings suggest that observational learning may contribute to a specific vulnerability for panic disorder by priming individuals to perceive bodily symptoms as threatening and thereby developing fear even without personally experiencing aversive bodily symptoms themselves.
Alcan, E., Benke, C., & Melzig, C. A. (2024). A threat from within: Learning to fear by observing aversive bodily symptoms in others. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 178, 104555.
The cognitive theory of panic disorder: A systematic narrative review
This systematic review evaluated studies that have tested key predictions of the cognitive theory of panic disorder. Many CBT therapists will be relieved to know that the findings strongly supported the theory, demonstrating that reducing catastrophic misinterpretations can decrease panic and that sustained improvement depends on cognitive change. In addition, safety-seeking behaviors were found to perpetuate panic by preventing patients from disconfirming their catastrophic fears.
“This systematic review suggests that there is substantial support for the cognitive theory of panic disorder and its predictions, providing clinical implications that catastrophic misinterpretations of bodily sensations and related safety-seeking behaviours should be targeted within the treatment of panic disorder.”
Aslam, S. Y., Zortea, T., & Salkovskis, P. (2024). The cognitive theory of panic disorder: A systematic narrative review. Clinical Psychology Review, 102483.
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