Does maintenance CBT contribute to long-term treatment response of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia? A randomized controlled clinical trial

Development of decision rules for an adaptive aftercare intervention based on individual symptom courses for agoraphobia patients

As other mental illnesses, agoraphobia is associated with a significant risk for relapse after the end of treatment. Personalized and adaptive approaches appear promising to improve maintenance treatment and aftercare as they acknowledge patients' varying individual needs with respect to intensity of care over time. Currently, there is a deficit of knowledge about the detailed symptom course after discharge from acute treatment, which is a prerequisite for the empirical development of rules to decide if and when aftercare should be intensified. Therefore, this study aimed firstly at the investigation of the naturalistic symptom course of agoraphobia after discharge from initial treatment and secondly at the development and evaluation of a data-driven algorithm for a digital adaptive aftercare intervention. A total of 56 agoraphobia patients were recruited in 3 hospitals. Following discharge, participants completed a weekly online monitoring assessment for three months. While symptom severity remained stable at the group level, individual courses were highly heterogeneous. Approximately two-thirds of the patients (70%) reported considerable symptoms at some time, indicating a need for medium or high-intense therapeutic support. Simulating the application of the algorithm to the data set resulted in an early (86% before week six) and relatively even allocation of patients to three groups (need for no, medium, and high-intense support respectively). Overall, findings confirm the need for adaptive aftercare strategies in agoraphobia. Digital, adaptive approaches may provide immediate support to patients who experience symptom deterioration and thus promise to contribute to an optimized allocation of therapeutic resources and overall improvement of care.

Personalised app-based relapse prevention of depressive and anxiety disorders in remitted adolescents and young adults: a protocol of the StayFine RCT

INTRODUCTION

Youth in remission of depression or anxiety have high risks of relapse. Relapse prevention interventions may prevent chronicity. Aim of the study is therefore to (1) examine efficacy of the personalised StayFine app for remitted youth and (2) identify high-risk groups for relapse and resilience.

METHOD AND ANALYSIS

In this Dutch single-blind parallel-group randomised controlled trial, efficacy of app-based monitoring combined with guided app-based personalised StayFine intervention modules is assessed compared with monitoring only. In both conditions, care as usual is allowed. StayFine modules plus monitoring is hypothesised to be superior to monitoring only in preventing relapse over 36 months. Participants (N=254) are 13-21 years and in remission of depression or anxiety for >2 months. Randomisation (1:1) is stratified by previous treatment (no treatment vs treatment) and previous episodes (1, 2 or >3 episodes). Assessments include diagnostic interviews, online questionnaires and monitoring (ecological momentary assessment with optional wearable) after 0, 4, 12, 24 and 36 months. The StayFine modules are guided by certified experts by experience and based on preventive cognitive therapy and ingredients of cognitive behavioural therapy. Personalisation is based on shared decision-making informed by baseline assessments and individual symptom networks. Time to relapse (primary outcome) is assessed by the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-lifetime version diagnostic interview. Intention-to-treat survival analyses will be used to examine the data. Secondary outcomes are symptoms of depression and anxiety, number and duration of relapses, global functioning, and quality of life. Mediators and moderators will be explored. Exploratory endpoints are monitoring and wearable outcomes.

ETHICS, FUNDING AND DISSEMINATION

The study was approved by METC Utrecht and is funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (636310007). Results will be submitted to peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at (inter)national conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05551468; NL8237.

Psychological interventions to prevent relapse in anxiety and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives

The aim of this review is to establish the effectiveness of psychological relapse prevention interventions, as stand-alone interventions and in combination with maintenance antidepressant treatment (M-ADM) or antidepressant medication (ADM) discontinuation for patients with remitted anxiety disorders or major depressive disorders (MDD).

Methods

A systematic review and a meta-analysis were conducted. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO and Embase for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing psychological relapse prevention interventions to treatment as usual (TAU), with the proportion of relapse/recurrence and/or time to relapse/recurrence as outcome measure.

Results

Thirty-six RCTs were included. During a 24-month period, psychological interventions significantly reduced risk of relapse/recurrence for patients with remitted MDD (RR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.68–0.86, p<0.001). This effect persisted with longer follow-up periods, although these results were less robust. Also, psychological interventions combined with M-ADM significantly reduced relapse during a 24-month period (RR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.62–0.94, p = 0.010), but this effect was not significant for longer follow-up periods. No meta-analysis could be performed on relapse prevention in anxiety disorders, as only two studies focused on relapse prevention in anxiety disorders.

Conclusions

In patients with remitted MDD, psychological relapse prevention interventions substantially reduce risk of relapse/recurrence. It is recommended to offer these interventions to remitted MDD patients. Studies on anxiety disorders are needed.

Systematic review registration number

PROSPERO 2018: CRD42018103142.

Do I really have to do my homework? The role of homework compliance in cognitive behavioral therapy for irritable bowel syndrome

Treatment guidelines identify cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a treatment of choice for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As a learning-based treatment, homework assignments are regarded as important for optimizing outcomes for CBT-treated patients. However, their actual benefit for IBS is unknown. This study examined whether homework completion corresponds with immediate and sustained treatment response in IBS patients enrolled in CBT treatment. Subjects were 358 IBS patients receiving clinic-based CBT (10 session), home-based CBT (4 session), or a 4 session, non-specific IBS education comparator as part of a large NIH trial. Homework completion was rated by clinician at each session. IBS symptom improvement was measured with the Clinician Global Improvement Scale at treatment week 5, post-treatment (week 12), and at follow-ups (weeks 22, 34, 46, 62). Homework completion rates over the 10-week acute phase corresponded with greater IBS symptom improvement and patient satisfaction at post-treatment. Early treatment homework completion did not predict early treatment response. Contrary to expectations, homework compliance rates were not greater among in-clinic session patients than home-based patients. Data lend empirical support to the clinical value of homework in teaching patients how to self-manage painful GI symptoms refractory to conventional medical and dietary therapies.

Reasons for Participation and Nonparticipation in Psychological Relapse Prevention for Anxiety and Depression: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Anxiety and depressive disorders frequently recur, but participation in effective psychological interventions to prevent relapse is limited. The reasons for nonparticipation are largely unknown, hampering successful implementation. The aims of this study were: (1) to investigate reasons why patients with remitted anxiety or depressive disorders refuse cognitive-behavioral therapy relapse prevention interventions (RPIs), (2) to compare these reasons with reasons to participate, and (3) to gain insight into patients' preferences regarding relapse prevention.

METHODS

A qualitative study was conducted in which data were gathered from 52 semistructured interviews with patients who either refused or agreed to participate in psychological relapse prevention. The constant comparative method was used.

RESULTS

The data showed that those who refused to participate (1) did have knowledge about relapse risks in general, (2) but did not relate this risk to themselves, and therefore, did not feel the need for relapse prevention, or (3) declined to participate for logistical reasons or reasons related to the content of the intervention. Preferences concerning the form and content of RPIs were very diverse.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychoeducation on relapse should be provided to patients to help them relate recurrence risks to themselves. RPIs should also be individually tailored.

Evaluation of a Blended Relapse Prevention Program for Anxiety and Depression in General Practice: Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Existing studies have yet to investigate the perspectives of patients and professionals concerning relapse prevention programs for patients with remitted anxiety or depressive disorders in primary care. User opinions should be considered when optimizing the use and implementation of interventions.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the GET READY relapse prevention programs for patients with remitted anxiety or depressive disorders in general practice.

METHODS

Semistructured interviews (N=26) and focus group interviews (N=2) with patients and mental health professionals (MHPs) in the Netherlands were performed. Patients with remitted anxiety or depressive disorders and their MHPs who participated in the GET READY study were interviewed individually. Findings from the interviews were tested in focus group interviews with patients and MHPs. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Participants were positive about the program because it created awareness of relapse risks. Lack of motivation, lack of recognizability, lack of support from the MHP, and symptom severity (too low or too high) appeared to be limiting factors in the use of the program. MHPs play a crucial role in motivating and supporting patients in relapse prevention. The perspectives of patients and MHPs were largely in accordance, although they had different perspectives concerning responsibilities for taking initiative.

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of the GET READY program was challenging. Guidance from MHPs should be offered for relapse prevention programs based on eHealth. Both MHPs and patients should align their expectations concerning responsibilities in advance to ensure optimal usage. Usage of blended relapse prevention programs may be further enhanced by diagnosis-specific programs and easily accessible support from MHPs.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

RR2-10.1186/s12888-019-2034-6.

Exposure-induced changes of plasma metabolome and gene expression in patients with panic disorder

BACKGROUND

Anxiety disorders including panic disorder (PD) are the most prevalent psychiatric diseases leading to high disability and burden in the general population. Acute panic attacks are distinctive for PD but also frequent in other anxiety disorders. The neurobiology or specific molecular changes leading to and present during panic attacks are insufficiently known so far.

METHODS

In the present pilot study, we investigated dynamic metabolomic and gene expression changes in peripheral blood of patients with PD (n = 25) during two exposure-induced acute panic attacks.

RESULTS

The results show that the metabolite glyoxylate was dynamically regulated in peripheral blood. Additionally, glyoxylate levels were associated with basal anxiety levels and showed gender-related differences at baseline. As glyoxylate is part of the degradation circuit of cholecystokinin, this suggests that this neuropeptide might be directly involved in exposure-induced panic attacks. Only gene expression changes of very small magnitude were observed in this experimental setting.

CONCLUSIONS

From this first metabolome and gene expression study in exposure-induced acute panic attacks in PD we conclude that metabolites can potentially serve as dynamic markers for different anxiety states. However, these findings have to be replicated in cohorts with greater sample sizes.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adult ADHD: A Randomized Clinical Trial in China

OBJECTIVE

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for adult ADHD, and booster sessions may improve long-term outcome. This study was designed to investigate the effects of group CBT and its booster sessions for Chinese adult patients with ADHD.

METHOD

There were CBT only group ( n = 43), CBT +booster group ( n = 43), and control group with patients on the waiting list ( n = 22). The primary outcome was the score of the ADHD-Rating Scale (ADHD-RS). Secondary outcomes included emotion, executive function (EF), impulsivity, self-esteem, and life quality at 12th and 24th week.

RESULTS

At 12th week, the score of ADHD-RS, EF, and impulsivity showed significant improvement in CBT +booster group comparing with control group. At 24th week, differences between CBT only group and CBT +booster group were not significant.

CONCLUSION

CBT was effective for Chinese adult patients with ADHD. Booster sessions do not appear to provide additional benefits.

Analysis of brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for panic discorder

The aim of this study was to determine if a modification made to the traditional treatments for panic disorder (PD) proved to be effective in adjusting to the cultural and economic characteristics of patients in the southern Andean Region of Colombia. A quasi-experimental model was used, measurements were taken before and after treatment and follow-ups took place after 1 and 2 years; the sample was made up of 82 people (47 women and 35 men, with an average age of 34 and 29 years respectively). Results showed a reduction of PD clinical symptoms after the treatment (d>0.8), the significance in all cases was p <0.001 and changes maintained throughout the follow up period. In conclusion, it is posible to draw the treatment closer to the socio-cultural characteristics of patients to whom it is directed and the number of sessions could be reduced maintaining the effectiveness of the treatment.

Repeated Interoceptive Exposure in Individuals With High and Low Anxiety Sensitivity

Interoceptive exposure is one component in cognitive behavioral therapy of panic disorder. The present investigation addressed changes in defensive mobilization during repeated interoceptive exposure using a standardized hyperventilation procedure. 26 high and 22 low anxiety sensitive persons (ASI, Peterson & Reiss, 1992) went through two guided hyperventilation and normoventilation procedures, spaced one week apart. Breathing parameters, startle response magnitudes and symptom reports were measured. All participants successfully adhered to the guided breathing procedures. Both groups comparably reported more symptoms during hyperventilation than normoventilation in both sessions. Only high-AS participants displayed potentiated startle magnitudes after the first hyperventilation vs. normoventilation. One week later, when the hyperventilation exercise was repeated, this potentiation was no longer present. Thus, high and low-AS groups no longer differed in their defensive mobilization to symptom provocation. Furthermore, the number of reported baseline symptoms also decreased from session one to session two in the high-AS group. While high-AS reported increased baseline anxiety symptoms in session 1, groups did not differ in session 2. Results indicate a reduction of defensive mobilization during repeated interoceptive exposure.

Anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders constitute the largest group of mental disorders in most western societies and are a leading cause of disability. The essential features of anxiety disorders are excessive and enduring fear, anxiety or avoidance of perceived threats, and can also include panic attacks. Although the neurobiology of individual anxiety disorders is largely unknown, some generalizations have been identified for most disorders, such as alterations in the limbic system, dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and genetic factors. In addition, general risk factors for anxiety disorders include female sex and a family history of anxiety, although disorder-specific risk factors have also been identified. The diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders varies for the individual disorders, but are generally similar across the two most common classification systems: the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10). Despite their public health significance, the vast majority of anxiety disorders remain undetected and untreated by health care systems, even in economically advanced countries. If untreated, these disorders are usually chronic with waxing and waning symptoms. Impairments associated with anxiety disorders range from limitations in role functioning to severe disabilities, such as the patient being unable to leave their home.

Anxiety

Anxiety disorders (separation anxiety disorder, selective mutism, specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and generalised anxiety disorder) are common and disabling conditions that mostly begin during childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. They differ from developmentally normative or stress-induced transient anxiety by being marked (ie, out of proportion to the actual threat present) and persistent, and by impairing daily functioning. Most anxiety disorders affect almost twice as many women as men. They often co-occur with major depression, alcohol and other substance-use disorders, and personality disorders. Differential diagnosis from physical conditions-including thyroid, cardiac, and respiratory disorders, and substance intoxication and withdrawal-is imperative. If untreated, anxiety disorders tend to recur chronically. Psychological treatments, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy, and pharmacological treatments, particularly selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-noradrenaline-reuptake inhibitors, are effective, and their combination could be more effective than is treatment with either individually. More research is needed to increase access to and to develop personalised treatments.

SECOND-STAGE TREATMENTS FOR RELATIVE NONRESPONDERS TO COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT) FOR PANIC DISORDER WITH OR WITHOUT AGORAPHOBIA-CONTINUED CBT VERSUS SSRI: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

BACKGROUND

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy are efficacious for the short-term treatment of panic disorder. Less is known about the efficacy of these therapies for individuals who do not respond fully to short-term CBT.

METHOD

The current trial is a second-step stratified randomized design comparing two treatment conditions-selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI; paroxetine or citalopram; n = 34) and continued CBT (n = 24)-in a sample of individuals classified as treatment nonresponders to an initial course of CBT for panic disorder. Participants were randomized to 3 months of treatment and then followed for an additional 9 months. Only treatment responders after 3 months were maintained on the treatment until 12-month follow-up. Data analysis focused on panic disorder symptoms and achievement of response status across the first 3 months of treatment. Final follow-up data are presented descriptively.

RESULTS

Participants in the SSRI condition showed significantly lower panic disorder symptoms as compared to continued CBT at 3 months. Results were similar when excluding individuals with comorbid major depression or analyzing the entire intent-to-treat sample. Group differences disappeared during 9-month naturalistic follow-up, although there was significant attrition and use of nonstudy therapies in both arms.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest greater improvement in panic disorder symptoms when switching to SSRI after failure to fully respond to an initial course of CBT. Future studies should further investigate relapse following treatment discontinuation for nonresponders who became responders. Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00000368; https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00000368.

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Test the Effectiveness of an Immersive 3D Video Game for Anxiety Prevention among Adolescents

Adolescent anxiety is debilitating, the most frequently diagnosed adolescent mental health problem, and leads to substantial long-term problems. A randomized controlled trial (n = 138) was conducted to test the effectiveness of a biofeedback video game (Dojo) for adolescents with elevated levels of anxiety. Adolescents (11–15 years old) were randomly assigned to play Dojo or a control game (Rayman 2: The Great Escape). Initial screening for anxiety was done on 1,347 adolescents in five high schools; only adolescents who scored above the “at-risk” cut-off on the Spence Children Anxiety Survey were eligible. Adolescents’ anxiety levels were assessed at pre-test, post-test, and at three month follow-up to examine the extent to which playing Dojo decreased adolescents’ anxiety. The present study revealed equal improvements in anxiety symptoms in both conditions at follow-up and no differences between Dojo and the closely matched control game condition. Latent growth curve models did reveal a steeper decrease of personalized anxiety symptoms (not of total anxiety symptoms) in the Dojo condition compared to the control condition. Moderation analyses did not show any differences in outcomes between boys and girls nor did age differentiate outcomes. The present results are of importance for prevention science, as this was the first full-scale randomized controlled trial testing indicated prevention effects of a video game aimed at reducing anxiety. Future research should carefully consider the choice of control condition and outcome measurements, address the potentially high impact of participants’ expectations, and take critical design issues into consideration, such as individual- versus group-based intervention and contamination issues.

The effects of aggression on symptom severity and treatment response in a trial of cognitive behavioral therapy for panic disorder

BACKGROUND

Previous research suggests that patients with panic disorder exhibit higher levels of aggression than patients with other anxiety disorders. This aggression is associated with more severe symptomatology and interpersonal problems. However, few studies have examined whether higher levels of aggression are associated with a worse treatment response in this population.

METHODS

The present study sought to examine the association of aggression with panic disorder symptom severity in a sample of 379 patients who participated in a trial examining long-term strategies for the treatment of panic disorder.

RESULTS

We found that aggression was significantly associated with higher baseline levels of panic disorder symptoms, anxiety, depression, and functional impairment. Further, we found that patients higher in aggression did not achieve the same level of improvement in general anxiety symptoms during treatment compared to patients lower in aggression, even when controlling for baseline anxiety symptom severity.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that more research is needed concerning patients with anxiety disorders with higher aggression, as they may be a group in need of additional treatment considerations.

CLINICAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVISED DSM-5 DEFINITION OF AGORAPHOBIA IN TREATMENT-SEEKING ANXIOUS YOUTH

BACKGROUND

In DSM-5, the agoraphobia core symptom criterion has been revised to require fear about multiple situations from across at least two distinct domains in which escape might be difficult or panic-like symptoms might develop. The present study examined patterns and correlates of the recent change in a sample of anxious youth with symptom presentations consistent with the DSM-IV agoraphobia definition and/or specific phobia (SP) to consider how the recent diagnostic change impacts the prevalence and composition of agoraphobia in children and adolescents.

METHOD

Analyses (N = 151) evaluated impairment and correlates of agoraphobic youth who no longer meet the DSM-5 agoraphobia criteria relative to agoraphobic youth who do meet the new DSM-5 criteria. Secondary analyses compared agoraphobic youth not meeting DSM-5 criteria to SP youth.

RESULTS

One-quarter of youth with symptom presentations consistent with the DSM-IV agoraphobia definition no longer met criteria for DSM-5 agoraphobia, but showed comparable severity and impairment across most domains to youth who do meet criteria for DSM-5 agoraphobia. Further, these youth showed higher levels of anxiety sensitivity and internalizing psychopathology relative to youth with SP.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial proportion of impaired youth with considerable agoraphobic symptom presentations have been left without a specified anxiety diagnosis by the DSM-5, which may affect their ability to receive and/or get coverage for services and their representation in treatment evaluations. Future DSM iterations may do well to include a "circumscribed" agoraphobia specifier that would characterize presentations of fear or anxiety about multiple situations, but that do not span across at least two distinct situational domains.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder beginning in childhood, and about half of patients have symptoms lasting into adulthood. Adult ADHD causes various impairments of emotional, self-esteem, and executive function and life quality aspects. Furthermore, adverse outcomes include academic and occupational failures, traffic accidents and substance abuse, which would be a family and social burden. A combination of medication and psychotherapy is recommended as the treatment for adult ADHD, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been validated mostly with evidence-based researches. However, there has been a lack of randomized controlled trials of CBT for patients in China. Moreover, booster sessions of CBT for other disorders have proven effective in reducing recurrence and improving long-term outcomes, which has not been investigated for adult ADHD. This study will testify to the effect of CBT and explore the efficacy of subsequent booster sessions on adult ADHD.

METHODS/DESIGN

It is a three-armed randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of 12 weeks of CBT based on the published and validated manual and its booster sessions. The 12 weeks of CBT will be conducted weekly and will end at the 12th week, and then the booster sessions will be conducted monthly and end at the 24th week. There are three randomized groups, including a CBT with booster sessions group, a CBT group and a waiting group. Participants are outpatients of the Peking University Sixth Hospital who are diagnosed as having adult ADHD. The Primary efficacy endpoints are the scores of ADHD core symptoms at 12 and 24 weeks. Secondary endpoints include emotion, executive function, self-esteem, life quality and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data at different time points, and the change within every group will also be analyzed.

DISCUSSION

This is the first study to explore the efficacy of booster sessions of CBT in adult ADHD as far as we know. The results might increase proof of efficacy of CBT for adult ADHD in China, and the results showing efficacy of the booster sessions would also benefit our clinical practice.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials: NCT02062411, date of registration: 12 February 2014.

Treating Treatment-Resistant Patients with Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia Using Psychotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Switching Trial

Background: Nonresponsiveness to therapy is generally acknowledged, but only a few studies have tested switching to psychotherapy. This study is one of the first to examine the malleability of treatment-resistant patients using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial that included 43 patients diagnosed with primary panic disorder and/or agoraphobia (PD/A) with prior unsuccessful state-of-the-art treatment (mean number of previous sessions = 42.2). Patients were treated with an ACT manual administered by novice therapists and followed up for 6 months. They were randomized to immediate treatment (n = 33) or a 4-week waiting list (n = 10) with delayed treatment (n = 8). Treatment consisted of eight sessions, implemented twice weekly over 4 weeks. Primary outcomes were measured with the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (PAS), the Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and the Mobility Inventory (MI). Results: At post-treatment, patients who received ACT reported significantly more improvements on the PAS and CGI (d = 0.72 and 0.89, respectively) than those who were on the waiting list, while improvement on the MI (d = 0.50) was nearly significant. Secondary outcomes were consistent with ACT theory. Follow-up assessments indicated a stable and continued improvement after treatment. The dropout rate was low (9%). Conclusions: Despite a clinically challenging sample and brief treatment administered by novice therapists, patients who received ACT reported significantly greater changes in functioning and symptomatology than those on the waiting list, with medium-to-large effect sizes that were maintained for at least 6 months. These proof-of-principle data suggest that ACT is a viable treatment option for treatment-resistant PD/A patients. Further work on switching to psychotherapy for nonresponders is clearly needed. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

A preliminary investigation of the long-term outcome of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to conduct a preliminary examination of long-term outcomes on a broad range of affective disorder symptoms treated with a newly developed intervention: The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP).

METHOD

Maintenance of treatment gains at long-term follow-up (LTFU) were explored in patients (N=15, mean age=32.27; 60% female) who completed a clinical trial of the UP.

RESULTS

Treatment gains observed at 6-month follow-up (6MFU) on measures of clinical severity, general symptoms of depression and anxiety, and a measure of symptom interference in daily functioning were largely maintained 12months later (at an average of 18months posttreatment), and any significant changes from 6MFU to LTFU reflected small increases in symptoms that remained, on average, in the subclinical range.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide the first initial support for the durability of broad treatment gains following transdiagnostic treatment.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety in youth with an autism spectrum disorder: A follow-up study

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety in youth with an autism spectrum disorder appears efficacious; however, maintenance of treatment gains has not yet been studied. Using a sample of 32 youth who had benefited at least minimally from a past trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety in autism spectrum disorder, this study assessed anxiety symptoms in youth 10–26 months following treatment completion. Compared to baseline, follow-up scores were associated with large effects for treatment. Relative to post-treatment, a small effect for return in symptoms was present and significantly fewer individuals were rated as responders at follow-up. Future studies should investigate factors associated with poor treatment maintenance and modifications or additions to treatment that may help maintain treatment gains.

Patterns of early change and their relationship to outcome and early treatment termination in patients with panic disorder

OBJECTIVE

Recently, innovative statistical tools have been used to model patterns of change in psychological treatments. These tools can detect patterns of change in patient progress early in treatment and allow for the prediction of treatment outcomes and treatment length.

METHOD

We used growth mixture modeling to identify different latent classes of early change in patients with panic disorder (N = 326) who underwent a manualized cognitive-behavioral treatment.

RESULTS

Four latent subgroups were identified, showing clusters of change trajectories over the first 5 sessions. One of the subgroups consisted of patients whose symptoms rapidly decreased and also showed the best outcomes. This information improved treatment prediction by 16.1% over patient intake characteristics. Early change patterns also significantly predicted patients' early treatment termination. Patient intake characteristics that significantly predicted class membership included functional impairment and separation anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that early treatment changes are uniquely predictive of treatment outcome.

Therapist effects and the outcome-alliance correlation in cognitive behavioral therapy for panic disorder with agoraphobia

Although the alliance-outcome correlation is well established, no published studies to date have separated between therapists' and patients' contributions while controlling for early symptom change. In this study, we examined therapist effects in two trials of CBT for panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA) and the impact of therapists' and patients' contribution to the alliance on outcome and attrition in one trial. Alliance ratings were obtained from patients and therapists early and late in treatment (n = 133). Data were analyzed using multi-level modeling controlling for early symptom change. No therapist effects were found. The patients' contribution to the alliance predicted outcome (in both panic severity and anxiety sensitivity) and attrition. The therapists' contribution to the alliance predicted attrition but not outcome. Results suggest that the patient's contribution to the alliance plays an important role in CBT for PDA and that including common factors into research on CBT may help elucidate treatment processes.

Patient characteristics and variability in adherence and competence in cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder

Although associations with outcome have been inconsistent, therapist adherence and competence continues to garner attention, particularly within the context of increasing interest in the dissemination, implementation, and sustainability of evidence-based treatments. To date, research on therapist adherence and competence has focused on average levels across therapists. With a few exceptions, research has failed to address multiple sources of variability in adherence and competence, identify important factors that might account for variability, or take these sources of variability into account when examining associations with symptom change.

OBJECTIVE

(a) statistically demonstrate between- and within-therapist variability in adherence and competence ratings and examine patient characteristics as predictors of this variability and (b) examine the relationship between adherence/competence and symptom change.

METHOD

Randomly selected audiotaped sessions from a randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder were rated for therapist adherence and competence. Patients completed a self-report measure of panic symptom severity prior to each session and the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Personality Disorder Scale prior to the start of treatment.

RESULTS

Significant between- and within-therapist variability in adherence and competence were observed. Adherence and competence deteriorated significantly over the course of treatment. Higher patient interpersonal aggression was associated with decrements in both adherence and competence. Neither adherence nor competence predicted subsequent panic severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Variability and "drift" in adherence and competence can be observed in controlled trials. Training and implementation efforts should involve continued consultation over multiple cases in order to account for relevant patient factors and promote sustainability across sessions and patients.