After the acute phase treatment , as long as the drug was continued , the superiority of the combination over either monotherapy appeared to persist .
BACKGROUND Panic disorder can be treated with pharmacotherapy , psychotherapy or in combination , but the relative merits of combined therapy have not been well established .
OBJECTIVES To review evidence concerning short- and long-term advantages and disadvantages of combined psychotherapy plus antidepressant treatment for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia , in comparison with either therapy alone .
Effects of panic disorder treatments on personality disorder characteristics.
Ninety-three patients with panic disorder and mild or no agoraphobia were treated for their panic disorder by using either 11 sessions of individual cognitive-behavior therapy or imipramine . Before and after treatment , their panic disorder symptomatology was assessed , and a self-report measure was administered to measure personality disorder characteristics [ Klein et al. , 1990 : Wisconsin Personality Disorders Inventory ] . In addition , some patients received this personality assessment  again after six monthly maintenance sessions . Both treatments were equally effective in reducing panic disorder symptomatology , and both treatments had a positive influence on personality disorder characteristics . Personality disorder characteristics did not predict treatment outcome in either group . The implication s of the findings for the assessment of personality and the treatment of panic disorder are discussed
After the acute phase treatment , as long as the drug was continued , the superiority of the combination over either monotherapy appeared to persist .
BACKGROUND Panic disorder can be treated with pharmacotherapy , psychotherapy or in combination , but the relative merits of combined therapy have not been well established .
OBJECTIVES To review evidence concerning short- and long-term advantages and disadvantages of combined psychotherapy plus antidepressant treatment for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia , in comparison with either therapy alone .