The review established the paucity of high quality evidence investigating the efficacy of psychotherapy combined with benzodiazepines for panic disorder .
Currently , there is inadequate evidence to assess the clinical effects of psychotherapy combined with benzodiazepines for patients who are diagnosed with panic disorder
BACKGROUND The efficacy of combining psychotherapy and benzodiazepines for panic disorder is unclear , despite widespread use .
OBJECTIVES To examine the efficacy of the combination compared with either treatment alone .
Double-blindness procedures, rater blindness, and ratings of outcome. Observations from a controlled trial.
BACKGROUND We determined whether blindness in a double-blind r and omized controlled trial of alprazolam and exposure therapies in patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia was maintained in assessors and patients , what were the factors related to " unblinding , " and whether unblinding was associated with clinical outcome . METHOD In 129 patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia who were r and omized to alprazolam-exposure , placebo-exposure , alprazolam-relaxation , or placebo-relaxation conditions , blindness was tested at the end of treatment by the independent assessors ' and patients ' classification of the treatment condition . RESULTS Assessors ' classifications were correct in 82 % of the alprazolam group and 78 % of the placebo group ; corresponding figures for patients ' classifications were 73 % and 70 % , respectively . Factors associated with unblinding included drug side effects but not assessors ' ratings of treatment outcome . CONCLUSION Judgment of the validity of the outcome of a r and omized controlled trial is easier if the report notes not only the use of a double-blindness procedure but also details how blind the raters remained and how any unblinding affected their ratings of clinical outcome
The review established the paucity of high quality evidence investigating the efficacy of psychotherapy combined with benzodiazepines for panic disorder .
Currently , there is inadequate evidence to assess the clinical effects of psychotherapy combined with benzodiazepines for patients who are diagnosed with panic disorder
BACKGROUND The efficacy of combining psychotherapy and benzodiazepines for panic disorder is unclear , despite widespread use .
OBJECTIVES To examine the efficacy of the combination compared with either treatment alone .