Effectiveness of mental footnotes in the cognitive therapy for panic attack: two case-studies

Area of Science:

• Experimental and cognitive psychology
• Psychopathology

Background:

• Implicit meanings, or "mental footnotes," influence information processing.
• This influence extends beyond simple tasks, impacting psychopathological syndromes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of "mental footnotes" in halting catastrophic thoughts during panic attacks.
• To evaluate the application of implicit information for treating panic attack syndrome.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the "negation illusory-reality technique" based on mental models and iconic representation.
• Introduced a "mental footnote" of "this does not have to happen" to patients' catastrophic thought patterns.

Main Results:

• Two patients treated with this technique reported no panic attacks for at least two years post-therapy.
• Demonstrated a potential method for interrupting the cycle of panic-inducing catastrophic thoughts.

Conclusions:

• The "negation illusory-reality technique" shows promise in treating panic attack syndrome.
• Further research is encouraged to validate this therapeutic approach for panic disorder treatment.