Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Panic Disorder: Current Status

Controlled clinical trials evaluating cognitive-behavioral approaches for panic disorder are rapidlyaccumulating. In the aggregate, these studies suggest substantial efficacy for cognitive-behavioral approachesin both the short and long term. Summaries and meta-analyses of these results are brieflydescribed, but new evidence is also presented indicating that, in this chronic condition, patients continueto experience some exacerbations and remissions over the long term. Current attempts to evaluatecombination psychosocial and pharmacologic approaches are described as well as the beginningsof efforts to develop more powerful treatments for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia.