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 .
Personality disorder and social anxiety predict delayed response in drug and behavioral treatment of panic disorder.
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of pretreatment characteristics and personality disorders on the onset of response in the treatment of panic disorder . METHODS The data of 73 out- patients with panic disorder who had completed at least 6 weeks of a r and omized trial of 24 weeks of either paroxetine only or paroxetine combined with cognitive group-therapy  were analyzed in a Cox proportional hazards model . RESULTS The likelihood of having responded to treatment ( defined by a CGI rating of improvement ) was more than twice as high for patients without a personality disorder or social phobia than for Patients with a personality disorder or social phobia . CONCLUSIONS We suggest that patients with these characteristics do benefit from prolonged treatment , and they may profit from an additional treatment focused on social anxiety
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 .