Effects of cognitive-behavioral treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobia on concurrent alcohol abuse

Abstract

Research has shown that panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA) and alcohol abuse co-occur frequently. One theory suggests that alcohol consumption is motivated by the goal of tension reduction and that “self-medication” will decrease with successful treatment of the anxiety disorder as more adaptive coping skills are employed by the patient. The present study is a series of three case studies examining the effects of a cognitive-behavioral treatment for PDA on concurrent alcohol abuse. At posttreatment, two patients reported a remission of PDA while the third patient had a decline, but not a remission, in the severity of PDA. All patients had diagnoses of alcohol abuse in early full remission at posttreatment. At 6-month follow-up, one patient continued to have no clinical diagnoses, one patient had a clinical diagnosis of PDA but no alcohol abuse, and one patient had clinical diagnoses of PDA and alcohol abuse. Suggestions for future research with this population are discussed.