Clinical trial NCT01680237: Cognitive Behavior Therapy vs Exposure in Vivo in the Treatment of Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia
Official title: Cognitive Behavior Therapy vs Exposure in Vivo in the Treatment of Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: TERMINATED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia
Keywords: cognitive behavior therapy
exposure in-vivo
panic disorder with agoraphobia
Lead sponsor: Ruhr University of Bochum
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2012-09-07
Enrollment: 130
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Panic disorder with agoraphobia is a prevalent and one of the most handicapping anxiety disorders. Although the efficacy of psychological treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobia has been the subject of a great deal of research, studies comparing cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure in vivo have regularly been underpowered to detect small to moderate differences. Therefore, the primary purpose of the present study is to investigate if the combination of cognitive techniques with exposure in vivo is superior to the effects of exposure alone for patients with moderate to severe agoraphobia.

Detailed description: Anxiety disorders are the most common group of mental illnesses, with lifetime prevalence estimates ranging between 10-30% (Kessler et al 2007). They are an economic burden on society and the sixth largest cause of disability globally (Baxter et al 2014; Fineberg et al 2013). Suffering from an anxiety disorder is distressing, with affected individuals reporting adverse effects on quality of life comparable to sufferers of major depressive disorder, and in excess of the population norm (Mendlowicz and Stein 2000). Panic disorder with agoraphobia is especially prevalent and one of the most handicapping anxiety disorders.

Although the efficacy of psychological treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobia has been the subject of a great deal of research (Sanchez-Meca, Rosa-Alcazar, Marin-Martinez \& Gomez-Conesa, 2010), studies comparing cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure in vivo have regularly been underpowered to detect small to moderate differences.

Therefore, the primary purpose of the present study is to investigate if the combination of cognitive techniques with exposure in vivo is superior to the effects of exposure alone for patients with moderate to severe agoraphobia. Participants suffering from panic disorder, agoraphobia receive exposure-based treatment with elements of cognitive restructuring (CBT-group) or without such elements (Exposure-only group) delivered according to treatment manuals and in individual sessions with a maximum of 30 sessions á 50 minutes. Both treatments cover psychoeducation on the nature of anxiety and panic, interoceptive and intensified situational exposure exercises. In the CBT group identification and correction of maladaptive thoughts about anxiety and its consequences is furthermore part of the treatment package.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of panic disorder with agoraphobia by trained clinician using a structured interview
* The anxiety disorder is considered to be the patient's main current problem
* Age between 18 and 65 years
* The patient has agreed to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

- Diagnosis of bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, alcohol/substance abuse or dependency (within past 3 months), prominent risk of self-harm, organic mental disorder; concurrent psychotherapeutic or psychopharmacological treatment

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change (from baseline) in the Mobility Inventory
timeFrame: 0, 6, 12 month after treatment
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change (from baseline) in a Behavioral Approach Test
timeFrame: 0, 6, 12 month after treatment
Other outcomes:
measure: Change (from baseline) in the Anxiety Disorder Interview Schedule
timeFrame: 0, 6, 12 month after treatment
Locations:
city: Bochum
country: Germany
facility: Zentrum für Psychotherapie
state: NRW
Study officials:
affiliation: Ruhr-Universität Bochum
name: Tobias Teismann, Dr.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Sanchez-Meca J, Rosa-Alcazar AI, Marin-Martinez F, Gomez-Conesa A. Psychological treatment of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia: a meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev. 2010 Feb;30(1):37-50. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2009.08.011.
citation: Kessler RC, Angermeyer M, Anthony JC, DE Graaf R, Demyttenaere K, Gasquet I, DE Girolamo G, Gluzman S, Gureje O, Haro JM, Kawakami N, Karam A, Levinson D, Medina Mora ME, Oakley Browne MA, Posada-Villa J, Stein DJ, Adley Tsang CH, Aguilar-Gaxiola S, Alonso J, Lee S, Heeringa S, Pennell BE, Berglund P, Gruber MJ, Petukhova M, Chatterji S, Ustun TB. Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of mental disorders in the World Health Organization's World Mental Health Survey Initiative. World Psychiatry. 2007 Oct;6(3):168-76.
citation: Baxter AJ, Vos T, Scott KM, Ferrari AJ, Whiteford HA. The global burden of anxiety disorders in 2010. Psychol Med. 2014 Aug;44(11):2363-74. doi: 10.1017/S0033291713003243. Epub 2014 Jan 22.
citation: Fineberg NA, Haddad PM, Carpenter L, Gannon B, Sharpe R, Young AH, Joyce E, Rowe J, Wellsted D, Nutt DJ, Sahakian BJ. The size, burden and cost of disorders of the brain in the UK. J Psychopharmacol. 2013 Sep;27(9):761-70. doi: 10.1177/0269881113495118. Epub 2013 Jul 24.
citation: Mendlowicz MV, Stein MB. Quality of life in individuals with anxiety disorders. Am J Psychiatry. 2000 May;157(5):669-82. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.157.5.669.