Nord J Psychiatry. 2019 Aug 2:1-8. doi: 10.1080/08039488.2019.1646803.
Walderhaug EP1, Gjestad R2, Egeland J1,3, Havik OE4, Nordgreen T4,5.
Abstract
Aims: The current study explore the relationship between the trajectories of primary panic disorder symptoms and secondary depressive symptoms during guided internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy for panic disorder.
Materials and methods: The patients (N=143) were recruited from an ongoing effectiveness study in secondary mental health outpatient services in Norway. Weekly self-reported primary panic disorder symptoms and secondary depressive symptoms were analysed.
Results: primary panic disorder symptoms and secondary depressive symptoms improved significantly during the course of treatment, and at six months follow-up. Parallel process latent growth curve modelling showed that the trajectory of depressive symptoms and trajectory of panic disorder symptoms were significantly related. A supplementary analysis with cross-lagged panel modelling showed that (1) pre-treatment depressive symptoms predicted a positive effect of panic disorder symptoms early in treatment; (2) high early treatment panic disorder symptoms predicted low depressive symptoms at post-treatment.
Conclusions: Guided ICBT for panic disorder is effective for both primary panic disorder symptoms and secondary depressive symptoms. Patients with high pre-treatment secondary depressive symptoms may constitute a vulnerable subgroup. A high level of panic disorder symptoms early in treatment seems beneficiary for depressive symptoms outcome. A time-dependent model may be necessary to describe the relationship between PAD symptoms and depressive symptoms during the course of treatment.
KEYWORDS: Internet; cognitive behavioral therapy; comorbidity; depression; panic disorder/therapy
PMID: 31373520
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