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Panic Disorder Project |
What
is the purpose and focus of the current panic disorder study? The
major aim of our ongoing panic disorder study is to test the effectiveness
of adding a new skills component called safety
behavior fading to our existing cognitive-behavioral treatment for
panic disorder and agoraphobia. Based on the results from several
published clinical trials, our original 8-week panic treatment has proven
to be markedly effective for the majority of patients. However, some
patients may require additional treatment to achieve full recovery. The
present investigation examines whether additional benefit can be achieved
by adding an additional 8 weeks of treatment specifically focusing on
assisting patients to eliminate
certain anxiety-maintaining defensive behaviors that appear to interfere
with recovery. Examples of such safety behaviors include avoiding
exercise, checking for exits, bathrooms, or hospitals, and relying on
family and friends to travel. The treatments under investigation are ones
that have shown considerable promise in several anxiety disorder research
centers in the United States and Europe. What
are the eligibility requirements? Because
this is a scientific study, there are fairly strict eligibility
requirements. These include: (a) current diagnosis of panic disorder as established by the 1997
American Psychiatric Association Guidelines; (b) willingness to attend all
treatment and evaluation sessions; (c) willingness to complete home
practice exercises as part of the treatment; and (d) willingness to keep
medication stable, which means not starting any new medication or going
off existing medication while receiving our treatment. How will eligibility be determined? All
study applicants will undergo a two-step patient screening process for
determining eligibility to take part in the study. The first step consists
of a brief telephone interview designed to evaluate the presence of panic
attacks, type of panic attacks, and panic-related apprehension. During
this step, you will also be sent a packet of questionnaires to complete at
home and return to the laboratory. Based on the information collected
during this first step, you may be invited for a comprehensive
face-to-face interview at our laboratory. Information from both interviews
and the packet of assessment forms will be reviewed at our weekly staff
meeting and a decision will be made as to whether you are eligible for the
treatment study. What
if I am eligible for this study? After
receiving notification from us that you are eligible for the study, you
will be contacted to set up your schedule of visits.
Your visits at the laboratory will consist of three different
types: (a) an orientation
visit, (b) 5 evaluation visits, and (c) 12-20 treatment visits.
The orientation visit
will provide you with additional information about the study and the type
of treatment you will be receiving. During this visit, we encourage
partners and family members to attend. This is an opportunity to learn
about the study and to have any questions answered by Dr. Telch.
The evaluation visits are
aimed at providing detailed information about your progress in treatment.
At each of the five evaluation visits, you will complete a thorough
computerized assessment of your current symptoms and functioning. The treatment
visits are separate from the evaluation visits and are conducted in small
groups ranging from 6 to 10 participants. Treatment visits are usually
conducted in the early evening and last approximately 90 minutes. What
if I am not eligible for this study? The
reasons for your ineligibility will be explained to you.
If you are not eligible for this study and would like a referral
for private treatment, Dr. Telch will be happy to assist you in finding
specialized treatment. When
will I know whether or not I am eligible? You
will receive written notification in approximately 2-3 weeks after
completing the screening interviews. When
will my participation in the study begin? You
will be notified by letter or by telephone when we schedule the
orientation session. Please
be patient. Depending upon
when you call in, there may be a waiting period of usually no longer than
8 weeks before the next treatment group begins. When
are the evaluation and treatment sessions held?
The
exact days and times of the treatment sessions are determined in the
orientation session, based on the therapists' schedules and feedback from
the participants. Most treatment sessions are held in the evening hours.
Each treatment session lasts approximately 1 1/2 hours.
We expect to complete 12 treatment sessions over 8 weeks or 20
sessions over 20 weeks, depending on your treatment group assignment. What
does it cost to participate? All
evaluation and treatment sessions are free.
We do, however, ask that you commit yourself to completing all
forms, attending all sessions, and completing all evaluations.
Make-up sessions will be allowed in some cases but have to be
approved in advance by Dr. Telch. What
if I am currently taking medication? In
order to participate in the study, you do not have to stop taking
medication. We do require
however, that you not make any changes in your medication or dose during
the treatment phase of the study. The
reason for this is that changes in your medication will make it difficult
for us to evaluate the effectiveness of our panic treatment.
Dr. Telch will be more than happy to talk with your physician about
any questions regarding your medication during the study period. Are
there any other requirements that I should know about? Yes! Because this is a scientific investigation, it is crucial that you make a serious commitment to attend all appointments and to complete the home practice assignments. Because the treatment is conducted in group format, it is imperative that participants are on time so as not to inconvenience the rest of the group. |
