Effects of three non-insight-oriented treatment methods on agoraphobic women suitable for insight-oriented...

Twenty-three agoraphobic women rated suitable for insight-oriented psychotherapy received one of three randomly assigned non-insight-oriented types of treatment for 3 months and the effect was followed up after 9 months. All patients received basal therapy (B) in the form of standardized information, self-exposure instructions and anxiolytic medication. One group received this treatment only with monthly appointments. The others, in addition, received either therapist-directed prolonged exposure in vivo (PE) or relaxation therapy (R). The effects of insight-oriented psychotherapy could not be studied due to the small numbers in this group. All groups showed clinically relevant improvement, which indicates a favourable prognosis of patients suitable for insight-oriented psychotherapy irrespective of mode of treatment. However, since the PE group was least improved in some neurotic symptoms and had two treatment drop-outs and two cases of symptom substitution this mode of treatment cannot be recommended for insight-suitable patients. R patients came out favourably, which was contrary to the poor outcome with this therapy in patients not suitable for insight-oriented psychotherapy.