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Changes in anxiety sensitivity with pharmacotherapy for panic disorder
Naomi M Simon1, Michael W Otto, Jasper A J Smits
1Anxiety Disorders Program, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, WACC-812, 15 Parkman Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. nsimon@partners.org
Journal of Psychiatric Research
|September 24, 2004
Summary
Pharmacotherapy significantly reduces anxiety sensitivity in panic disorder patients. Reductions in fear of anxiety symptoms correlated with overall symptom improvement across all treatment groups.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Anxiety sensitivity is linked to panic disorder development and persistence.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy improves anxiety sensitivity, but pharmacotherapy's impact is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of pharmacotherapy on anxiety sensitivity in panic disorder patients.
- To compare the efficacy of different pharmacologic treatments on anxiety sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- A 12-week randomized controlled trial.
- Administered the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) to measure fear of anxiety symptoms.
- Investigated paroxetine, paroxetine plus sustained clonazepam, and paroxetine plus brief clonazepam.
Main Results:
- A mean reduction of 9.6 points in ASI scores was observed.
- Reductions in anxiety sensitivity correlated with symptomatic improvement.
- No significant differences in ASI score reduction were found between the treatment groups.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacotherapy effectively reduces anxiety sensitivity in panic disorder.
- Acute reductions in fear of anxiety symptoms were observed with medication.
- Pharmacologic treatment may offer benefits comparable to cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety sensitivity.