Effects of the 'Don't Panic' Course on Panic Disorder
Author Information
Author(s): Peter Meulenbeek, Godelief Willemse, Filip Smit, Niels Smits, Anton van Balkom, Philip Spinhoven, Pim Cuijpers
Primary Institution: VU-University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hypothesis
Can the 'Don't Panic' course effectively reduce symptoms of sub-threshold and mild panic disorder?
Conclusion
The study suggests that people with sub-threshold and mild panic disorder could benefit from the 'Don't Panic' course, which appears to be feasible and effective.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants showed significant reductions in panic and agoraphobic symptoms after the course.
- Large effect sizes were found for panic symptoms and mental health-related quality of life.
- 98% of participants felt the course helped them manage anxiety better.
Takeaway
This study shows that a special course can help people who feel anxious and have panic attacks feel better and manage their fears.
Methodology
A quasi-experimental two-group pre-post design with baseline and follow-up measurements.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the lack of data on participants who did not enroll in the study.
Limitations
The study lacked a control group and a structured psychiatric interview, which may affect the reliability of the results.
Participant Demographics
Mean age 42 years; 78% female; participants had sub-threshold or mild panic disorder.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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