Sara G. Mattis

Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Panic Disorder in Adolescence

This investigation represents the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of Panic Control Treatment for Adolescents (PCT-A). Thirteen adolescents, ages 14 to 17, were randomized to 11 weekly sessions of PCT-A treatment, whereas 13 were randomized to a self-monitoring control group. Results indicate that adolescents receiving immediate PCT-A showed a significant reduction in clinician-rated severity of panic disorder and in self-reported anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and depression, in comparison to control group participants. These treatment gains were maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Clinical severity of panic continued to improve from posttreatment to 3-month follow-up and then remained stable at 6-month follow-up. In light of study limitations, these findings suggest that cognitive-behavioral treatment for panic disorder in adolescence is a feasible and potentially efficacious intervention for this debilitating condition in youth.

A developmental adaptation of Panic Control Treatment for panic disorder in adolescence

Recent research indicates that panic disorder occurs in adolescence, often causing significant interference in daily life and activities that are essential to normal adolescent development. Although late adolescence has been suggested as the initial peak age of panic disorder onset, there is a paucity of research on the treatment of adolescent panic. Based on the well-established efficacy of cognitive-behavioral treatments of panic disorder in adults, particularly Panic Control Treatment (PCT), an adaptation of PCT was developed for the treatment of panic disorder in adolescents. Case studies are presented of two adolescents treated using the adapted PCT protocol. Following 11 individual treatment sessions, each adolescent experienced substantial reductions in frequency of panic attacks, fear and avoidance of agoraphobic situations, and scores on self-report measures of anxiety and anxiety sensitivity. Implications for the treatment of panic disorder in adolescence are discussed.

Identifying efficacious treatment components of panic control treatment for adolescents: A preliminary examination

ABSTRACT Panic Control Treatment for Adolescents (PCT-A) is a developmentally sensitive and efficacious treatment for adolescents with panic disorder. The present study is a preliminary examination of the relative efficacy of individual treatment components in PCT-A in a sample of treatment completers; the study identified when rapid improvements in panic symptoms occurred over the course of treatment and which treatment components preceded these gains. Twenty-one adolescents (ages 13–17) completed weekly measures of panic-relevant symptoms, which were examined for between-session gains. Results indicate that psychoeducation may precede notable decreases in panic attacks while cognitive restructuring may contribute to rapid declines in overall anxiety and cognitive errors. The authors discuss the importance of future controlled dismantling studies to examine the relative contribution of PCT-A treatment components.