Integrated treatment of panic disorder and social phobia

The integrated treatment of disabling anxiety disorders such as panic disorder and social phobia draws on an understanding of psychodynamic theory, cognitive-behavioral theory, and psychopharmacology. Regardless of the treatment employed, clinicians are encouraged to focus on interrelated factors affecting the course of the illness and its treatment, including differential diagnosis, etiology, patient education, symptomatic relief, underlying causes, and therapist anxiety. The author delineates eight key principles that foster the optimal choice or combination of treatment methods, and gives a case example to illustrate how these principles apply.