Related Experiment Videos
Sequence of improvement in agoraphobia with panic attacks
A Rifkin1, J C Pecknold, R P Swinson
1Department of Psychiatry, Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica, NY.
Journal of Psychiatric Research
|January 1, 1990
Summary
In agoraphobia treatment, panic attacks often precede phobias, suggesting a potential causal link. This finding emerged from a multi-center study comparing alprazolam to placebo.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Agoraphobia with panic attacks is a debilitating condition.
- The relationship between panic attacks and phobias in agoraphobia is not fully understood.
- Understanding the sequence of symptom development is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal sequence of sustained remission between panic attacks and phobias in patients with agoraphobia.
- To compare the efficacy of alprazolam versus placebo in treating agoraphobia with panic attacks.
Main Methods:
- A multi-center, randomized controlled trial.
- Participants received either alprazolam or placebo.
- Sustained remission of panic attacks and phobias was monitored.
Main Results:
- In both the alprazolam and placebo groups, sustained remission occurred in the sequence of panic attacks resolving before phobias.
- This consistent pattern was observed across different treatment arms.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that panic attacks may precede phobias in the pathogenesis of agoraphobia.
- Phobias might be secondary to panic attacks in this disorder.
- Further research is needed to explore alternative explanations for these observed data.