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Comparison Between the Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia Patients and Normal Controls on the Basis of Cognitions Affect and Physiology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2009

Nigar G. Khawaja ,
Tian P. S. Oei  and
Larry Evans
Nigar G. Khawaja
Affiliation:
University of Queensland, Australia
Tian P. S. Oei
Affiliation:
University of Queensland, Australia
Larry Evans
Affiliation:
University of Queensland, Australia
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Abstract

Research using ambulatory monitoring and cognitive sampling procedures has revealed the importance of negatively biased cognitions in panic attacks and panic disorder. However, the normal population has never been investigated on the basis of these procedures and it is still unclear how patients deviate from them on the basis of negative cognitions and their interaction with affect and physiology. The present study investigated these issues by comparing 15 panic disorder patients with an equal number of normal controls. The results revealed that, although the pattern of reporting cognitions was similar, the two groups differed on type and content of the cognitions. In general, there were significant differences between the two groups for neutral and negative cognitions. Patients experienced high anxiety levels that were associated with cognitions of negative affect. There was a low frequency of reported panic attacks in the patients group. Possible reasons for the limited number of panic attacks are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , July 1993 , pp. 199 - 217
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 1993

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