Effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder on comorbid conditions: Replication and extension

Replicating and extending our prior work ( Tsao, Lewin, & Craske, 1998), the present study examined the impact of cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for principal panic disorder/agoraphobia (PDA) on the frequency and severity of comorbid conditions in 51 principal PDA patients diagnosed using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV (ADIS-IV; Brown, Di Nardo, & Barlow, 1994). Patients with at least 1 additional diagnosis of clinical severity declined from 60.8% ( n = 31) at pretreatment to 37.3% ( n = 19) at posttreatment, and 35.3% ( n = 18) at follow-up. ADIS-IV severity ratings for comorbid generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, and specific phobia also declined significantly following treatment. Reductions in comorbidity were maintained at 6-month follow-up. Baseline comorbidity was not associated with increased severity of PDA at pretreatment and did not adversely impact outcome for PDA immediately posttreatment or at follow-up. Possible mechanisms, as well as implications for clinical practice and policy decisions, are discussed.