Personality disorders and the outcome of cognitive–behavioural treatment of panic disorder with agoraphobia.

In recent years, cognitive–behavioural interventions have proven to be effective in the treatment of Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia (PDA). However, there is controversy concerning treatment efficacy of PDA for patients with a comorbid diagnosis of Personality Disorder (PD). This study evaluates the impact of a PD on PDA treatment response. 81 patients suffering from PDA were recruited from a cognitive–behavioural group treatment program. Diagnoses on Axis I (N?=?81) and Axis II (N?=?36) were made at treatment onset according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III-Revised (DSM-III-R) criteria. Validated questionnaires were used to assess agoraphobia at treatment onset, following treatment, and at the 3 mo follow-up. All patients improved markedly from pretest to posttest and at the 3 mo follow-up. Grouping of patients according to the presence or absence of a personality disorder revealed significant differences between the groups on pre- and posttreatment scores on agoraphobia. Results also reveal that patients with a personality disorder improve more slowly than patients without a personality disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)