Are there gender differences in catastrophic appraisals in panic disorder with agoraphobia?

The mediational role of panic self-efficacy in cognitive behavioral therapy for panic disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Cognitive models of panic disorder (PD) with or without agoraphobia have stressed the role of catastrophic beliefs of bodily symptoms as a central mediating variable of the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Perceived ability to cope with or control panic attacks, panic self-efficacy, has also been proposed to play a key role in therapeutic change; however, this cognitive factor has received much less attention in research. The aim of the present review is to evaluate panic self-efficacy as a mediator of therapeutic outcome in CBT for PD using descriptive and meta-analytic procedures. We performed systematic literature searches, and included and evaluated 33 studies according to four criteria for establishing mediation. Twenty-eight studies, including nine randomized waitlist-controlled studies, showed strong support for CBT improving panic self-efficacy (criterion 1); ten showed an association between change in panic self-efficacy and change in outcome during therapy (criterion 2); three tested, and one established formal statistical mediation of panic self-efficacy (criterion 3); while four tested and three found change in panic self-efficacy occurring before the reduction of panic severity (criterion 4). Although none of the studies fulfilled all of the four criteria, results provide some support for panic self-efficacy as a mediator of outcome in CBT for PD, generally on par with catastrophic beliefs in the reviewed studies.

Mechanisms of change in cognitive behaviour therapy for panic disorder: the role of panic self-efficacy and catastrophic misinterpretations

The efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PD) is well-established; however, little is known about the underlying change processes of clinical improvement during therapy. According to cognitive theories, CBT for PD primarily works by changing catastrophic misinterpretations of bodily symptoms and panic attacks. However, panic self-efficacy, i.e. the perceived ability to cope with panic attacks, has also been suggested as an important change mechanism in CBT for PD. The aim of the study was to investigate if change in catastrophic misinterpretations and panic self-efficacy mediated change in the level of anxiety during the course of thirteen sessions of group CBT for PD. Forty-five participants completed weekly self-report measures of the possible cognitive mediators and the level of anxiety throughout therapy. The results indicated that within-person change in panic self-efficacy in one session, but not in catastrophic misinterpretations, predicted within-person level of anxiety symptoms the following week. However, in a reversed analysis, prior change in level of anxiety symptoms also predicted change in panic self-efficacy the following session. These results support panic self-efficacy as a mediator of change in CBT for PD, although a reciprocal causal relationship between panic self-efficacy and level of anxiety seems to be implied.

The effects of acute exercise on CO(2) challenge reactivity

The present study examined the effects of acute exercise on anxiogenic responding to 65% O(2)/35% CO(2) challenge. Participants (N=92) were 51 female and 41 male volunteers ranging in age from 17 to 24 (M=19.43, SD=1.31). Participants had no history of panic attacks and were randomized to moderate treadmill exercise (i.e., 70% of HR(max)) or quiet rest prior to taking a single vital capacity inhalation of 35% CO(2)/65% O(2). Gender and measures of negative affectivity and anxiety sensitivity were included in the design as control variables. Results indicated participants who exercised prior to challenge showed significantly reduced reactivity compared to their counterparts who rested prior to challenge. Importantly, the effect sizes for the advantage of exercise over rest remained in the medium to large range (i.e., partial eta(2)>.07) after controlling for the effects of gender, anxiety sensitivity, and negative affectivity. These findings are the first to demonstrate that the anti-panic effects of exercise are unique from, and cannot be better explained by, established risk factors of CO(2) challenge reactivity.

Co-occurrence of Axis I and Axis II disorders in female and male patients with panic disorder with agoraphobia

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to compare female and male patients with panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA) for the co-occurring Axis I and Axis II (personality) disorders, to better understand sex differences in PDA.

METHODS

The Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) Axis I Disorders, Clinician Version and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders were administered to 157 consecutive outpatients (112 females and 45 males) with principal diagnosis of PDA, who sought treatment at the 2 anxiety disorders clinics. Women and men with PDA were then compared with regard to the type and frequency of the co-occurring Axis I and Axis II disorders.

RESULTS

Women with PDA had a statistically greater tendency to receive co-occurring Axis I diagnoses and a greater number of Axis I diagnoses than men. Such a difference was not found for personality disorders. However, no sex difference was found for the mean number of co-occurring Axis I and Axis II diagnoses per patient. There were significantly more women with at least one co-occurring anxiety disorder. Women had a significantly higher frequency of specific phobia, whereas men were diagnosed with hypochondriasis and past alcohol abuse or dependence significantly more often. With regard to Axis II disorders, the only significant sex difference pertained to the higher frequency of dependent personality disorder among women.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that there are more similarities than differences between sexes in the co-occurring Axis I and Axis II disorders. Still, the relatively specific relationships between PDA and excessive alcohol use in men and between PDA and dependent personality traits and personality disorder in women seem important and have implications for clinical practice and treatment.