Panic Disorder Research Paper

Theoretical Approaches to Treating Panic Disorder
Michael Figel
Psy 6310
Dr. Wilmshurst
22 May 2011

Trembling limbs, pounding heart so frantic that a heart attack is certain to commence, sweat dripping from the forehead as fate seems lurking around the corner. Panic Disorder is so traumatic that the intense fear one suffers can make them feel they are going to die, or their experience of other physical distress result in not being able to cope with living. Those that suffer from panic disorder experience anxiety that affects its victims emotionally, physically as well as mentally. While many people are affected by it in one way or another, anxiety and panic disorder is far more serious and detrimental to the well-being and ability to
Initially, Ablon (2006) hypothesized that their method of naturalistic treatment would be effective if the following variables were considered among the following conditions or a positive outcome:
Specifically, we hypothesized that (1) naturalistic psychotherapy for panic disorder would be a highly effective treatment with gains commensurate with those achieved by prescriptive treatments; (2) that the treatments would be characterized by a high degree of psychodynamic process and significantly less be elements of interpersonal and cognitive-behavioral process; (3) that positive outcome would be predicted by the degree to which psychodynamic (rather than interpersonal and cognitive-behavioral) process was fostered; (4) that the treatments would be chacterized by elements typical of psychodynamic therapy including attention to the therapeutic alliance and relationship, interpretation of defense mechanisms, identification of unconscious feelings and wishes deemed dangerous, and the linking of current symptoms, behaviors, and feelings to past experiences; and (5) that these specific variables along with a focus on facilitating emotional expression would be most predictive of positive outcome
As stated by the author, “This study provides evidence that non-prescriptive treatment, particularly psychodynamic psychotherapy, may hold promise as a stand-alone treatment for panic disorder that could be offered as an alternative to compare to EST’s such as Panic Control Therapy in controlled trials.” The psychodynamic approach that was taken is deemed more acceptable regarding improvements versus an approach the concentrates on combating symptoms alone. Overall, the effective outcomes were credited to the emotion-based approach. This non-prescriptive, naturalistic approach is highly recommended for those that suffer from panic disorder and who are looking for an effective approach to deal with symptoms and source of their