Effect of cognitive-behavioral group therapy for panic disorder in changing coping strategies.

Background: Cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT) is an efficient treatment for panic disorder (PD). However, the role of CBGT in enhancing strategies to cope with stressful events has not been established.
Aim: To evaluate the effect of CBGT on the choice of coping strategy by PD patients compared to a group of individuals without mental disorders.
Methods: Forty-eight PD patients who completed a 12-session CBGT protocol were compared to 75 individuals without mental disorders regarding coping strategies as evaluated by the Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI). The severity of PD was assessed at baseline and after CBGT through the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), and the Panic Inventory (PI).
Results: Treatment was effective in reducing PD severity in all outcome measures. Patients used significantly fewer confrontation, escape and avoidance strategies after CBGT. The use of more adaptive coping strategies was related to a decrease in panic attacks and anticipatory anxiety. Application of the CSI showed that the use of strategies was also significantly different in patients as compared to the control group, except for escape and avoidance, which became similar after the CBGT protocol.
Conclusions: Despite the changes observed after the CBGT protocol, the choice of coping strategy was still different in patients vs. controls. The current CBGT protocol was used specifically to assess PD symptoms. Other cognitive tools should be included to address maladaptive coping strategies.
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