Description of antipanic therapy in a prospective longitudinal study

J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1996 Jun;16(3):223-32. doi: 10.1097/00004714-199606000-00006.

Abstract

The authors present a summary scale for assessing the percentage of patients in a large longitudinal study of panic disorder who received proven effective psychopharmacologic treatment. Such a scale provides a means for assessing and comparing somatic treatments of panic disorder across medication classes. The antipanic therapy levels were applied to data on medication treatment received by 492 patients participating in a naturalistic study and reflect psychopharmacologic treatment prescribed in 11 academic centers. Results show that among patients treated by psychiatrists at major teaching hospitals only 54% of the most symptomatic groups received optimal pharmacologic treatment. Among less symptomatic patients, who nonetheless met full criteria for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, only 43% received maximal therapy.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Massachusetts
  • Middle Aged
  • Panic Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents