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Intensive behavioral therapy for agoraphobia
Inge J E Knuts1, Gabriel Esquivel2, Thea Overbeek1
1Mondriaan Mental Health Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Research School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
Background:
We investigated the efficacy of an intensive 1-week behavioral therapy program focusing on agoraphobia for panic disorder patients with agoraphobia (PDA).
Design And Methods:
The study design was a case-control study. Main outcome measure was the agoraphobia score of the Fear Questionnaire (FQ-AGO). The outcomes on the FQ-AGO of a 1-week intensive therapy (96 patients) and a twice-weekly therapy (98 patients) were compared.
Results:
Agoraphobia improved significantly in both groups, 1 week and 3 months after therapy. Effect size for changes in the 1-week intensive therapy on the FQ-AGO was 0.75.
Limitations:
Limitations are use of antidepressants, no placebo group, and no long term follow-up.
Conclusion:
Behavioral therapy for agoraphobia can be shortened significantly if intensified without affecting therapy outcome, thus allowing patients a more rapid return to work and resumption of daily activities.
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