A Medline search of research on pharmacotherapy was undertaken , and a previous systematic review on the evidence -based pharmacotherapy of panic disorder was up date d. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors remain a first-line pharmacotherapy of panic disorder , with the serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine also an acceptable early option .
Temporary co-administration of benzodiazepines can be considered .
For patients not responding to first-line agents several pharmacotherapy options are available , but there is a notable paucity of data on the optimal choice
The evidence -based pharmacotherapy of panic disorder continues to evolve .
This paper review s data on first-line pharmacotherapy , evidence for maintenance treatment , and management options for treatment-refractory patients .
Does brief dynamic psychotherapy reduce the relapse rate of panic disorder?
BACKGROUND Although panic disorder can be effectively alleviated by drug treatment , the relapse rate is high . By adding brief dynamic psychotherapy focused on the psychosocial vulnerability of patients with panic disorder to an established drug treatment regimen , we hypothesized that this would result in a lower relapse rate after pharmacotherapy . METHODS Patients with panic disorder ( defined by DSM-III-R ) were r and omized to treatment with either clomipramine for 9 months ( n = 20 ) , or clomipramine for 9 months combined with 15 weekly sessions of brief dynamic psychotherapy ( n = 20 ) . Measures of anxiety and depression were collected at intake and at regular intervals . The patients had blind follow-up interviews at 6 , 12 , and 18 months after beginning treatment . RESULTS All patients in both groups became free of panic attacks within 26 weeks of the start of treatment . On termination of pharmacotherapy , the relapse rate was significantly higher in the clomipramine-only group during the follow-up period . There were significantly lower scores for most anxiety measures in the clomipramine plus psychotherapy group at the 9-month follow-up . CONCLUSION The addition of brief dynamic psychotherapy to treatment with clomipramine significantly reduces the relapse rate of panic disorder compared with clomipramine treatment alone
A Medline search of research on pharmacotherapy was undertaken , and a previous systematic review on the evidence -based pharmacotherapy of panic disorder was up date d. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors remain a first-line pharmacotherapy of panic disorder , with the serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine also an acceptable early option .
Temporary co-administration of benzodiazepines can be considered .
For patients not responding to first-line agents several pharmacotherapy options are available , but there is a notable paucity of data on the optimal choice
The evidence -based pharmacotherapy of panic disorder continues to evolve .
This paper review s data on first-line pharmacotherapy , evidence for maintenance treatment , and management options for treatment-refractory patients .