Two-day, Intensive Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Panic Disorder: a Case Study

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a highly effective treatment for panic disorder. However, few patients have access to this treatment, particularly those living in rural areas. In a pilot study, the author previously described the efficacy of a 2-day, intensive, exposure-based CBT intervention that was developed for the purpose of delivering CBT to a largely rural patient population that must travel long distances to find a treatment provider. The present study describes the successful implementation of this treatment with a 38-year-old woman with panic disorder and agoraphobia whose clinical presentation was complicated by recurrent fainting episodes during her panic attacks. Technical and theoretical issues in the conduct of this treatment are discussed, along with more general strategies to increase the efficiency and efficacy of CBT for panic disorder.