Cognitive-behavioral therapy and the treatment of panic disorder: Efficacy and strategies

In this article, we review the efficacy and applications of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for panic disorder. Research supports CBT as an effective first-line treatment of panic disorder that offers relatively quick onset of action and long-term maintenance of treatment benefits. These characteristics, plus the acceptability, tolerability, and cost-efficacy of CBT, make it an especially attractive treatment option for panic disorder. We review these findings as well as some newer developments in the field including research on emotional acceptance, the importance of context in extinction learning, and the use of CBT in combination with pharmacotherapy.