[The research network PANIC-NET: improving the treatment of panic disorder - from a better understanding of fear circuit mechanisms to more effective psychological treatment and routine care]

Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol. 2009 Mar-Apr;59(3-4):124-31. doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1202781. Epub 2009 Apr 6.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Panic disorder with agoraphobia (PD/AG) is one of the most costly and disabling anxiety disorders with a large range of secondary mental health problems. According to numerous clinical trials, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) represents the most effective psychotherapeutic intervention for PD/AG. Little is known about the exact mechanisms of CBT and their neurobiological effects on the fear network. Within the PANIC-NET a unique, large multilevel and multicenter research project was implemented. By carrying out a randomized controlled clinical trial, different CBT components (exposure vs. cognitive techniques) were investigated in 360 patients in order to identify the core active ingredients of CBT. Furthermore, experimental add-on therapy with D-Cycloserine was tested. In an integrated approach, fear-circuit mechanisms were investigated employing psychophysiological techniques, functional neuro-imaging using 3T-fMRI and molecular genetic approaches.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Agoraphobia / complications
  • Agoraphobia / drug therapy
  • Agoraphobia / psychology
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Cycloserine / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • Panic Disorder / drug therapy
  • Panic Disorder / pathology
  • Panic Disorder / psychology
  • Panic Disorder / therapy*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Cycloserine