Consideration of the APA practice guideline for the treatment of patients with panic disorder: Strengths and limitations for behavior therapy

The need to disseminate information about empirically supported treatments is becoming paramount in the current cost-minimizing health care climate. Cognitive-behavioral treatments are clearly effective for panic disorder, and yet the majority of persons suffering from panic disorder do not receive this treatment. Publications like the American Psychiatric Association's “Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Panic Disorder” (1998) potentially have a widespread influence on mental health-care practitioners, and therefore it is essential that the guideline be accurate and up-to-date. In this paper, we critique the guideline's presentation of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in terms of scientific basis, clinical practice, training of behavior therapists, and diversity issues. Although the guideline appropriately highlights CBT as a primary treatment for panic disorder, the discussions of its breadth, techniques, and utility are understated.