Cognitive Change During Treatment of Agoraphobia

Abstract

The main purpose of the present investigation was to assess cognitive change during behavioral and cognitive-behavioral treatment of agorophobia. In addition, the relationship between cognitive change and treatment outcome was evaluated. Six agoraphobics participated in a treatment program consisting of in vivo exposure, with half of the subjects receiving an additional cognitive treatment component. Both treatments were administered in a multiple baseline design across subjects. Results showed neither treatment to produce clear and consistent changes in cognitions. However, evaluation of the effects of both treatments on cognitions were hampered by several factors: (1) cognitive improvement typically occurring during the baseline phase; (2) marked variability of cognitions often exhibited during the treatment phases; and (3) relatively poor clinical outcome of several subjects. Nevertheless, no lawful relationship between cognitive change and treatment outcome was observed, irrespective of subjects' individual treatment responses.

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