Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Panic Disorder in Elderly Adults: Two Case Studies

Abstract

Cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) has been repeatedly proven efficacious in the treatment of panic disorder (PD); however, information about the efficacy of this treatment with geriatric patients is lacking. The current paper outlines treatment course and outcome for two elderly PD patients receiving CBT. J. B. was a 70-year-old White male with a 51-year history of PD; A. B. was a 69-year-old White female with a 25-year history of PD. Diagnoses were made on the basis of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R patient version (SCID-P). Both subjects received manual-driven CBT. Four primary treatment components consisted of psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, breathing retraining, and systematic exposure. Subjects completed symptom measures before and after treatment and at a follow-up evaluation. Results support the efficacy of the treatment for both patients, as panic attacks, fear and avoidance, and general symptomatology were substantially reduced at post- and follow-up assessments. Results are discussed in terms of the utility of CBT with elderly patients and the nuances of treating elderly patients with this treatment procedure.