Panic Control Therapy in African American Women



Abstract

The study basically examined the efficiency and effectiveness of a group of participants who were suffering from the Panic attacks, therefore, the group gone under the Panic Control Therapy. The research was divided into two groups, as 25 respondents participated in the research; therefore, the researchers divided the participants into halves. One group was referred treatment and other was nominated for the waiting list. As the research move on, at the pre-treatment stage, both the groups showed the same symptoms of depression and anxiety. Whereas, at the post-treatment stage, the PCT group showed a reduction in the avoidance behavior and showed panic control.

Panic Control Therapy in African American Women

Introduction

The study selected by the author presented by Carter et. al., by the name of 'Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy Versus a Wait-List Control in the Treatment of African American Women with Panic Disorder', which was published in the year 2003. As the title of the study suggest that it basically based on the African American Women having panic disorder in them. Twenty five African American women were selected for either a treatment or wait-list control (WLC). Regarding the treatment, it was based on 11 group sessions and during this duration; wait list participants didn't receive any treatment from the therapist. One thing that was prominent during the pre-treatment phase was that both the groups were equally disturbed and depressed. However, the study further revealed that at post-treatment stage, the panic control therapy group experienced and witnessed a significant reduction in the panic frequency due to which their state and trait anxiety, avoidance behavior and anxiety sensitivity was improved.

Key Findings

Initially thirty two women responded to the advertisement that was published. Surprisingly, the advertisement didn't mention any gender but panic symptoms were diagnosed during the treatment study only in women. During the treatment, 17 participants were assigned the treatment group and remaining were part of the wait list condition.

Panic Control Therapy

Panic disorders are a group of disorders whose central feature is the panic attack. The panic attack, which is an acute episode that usually lasts about 10 minutes, causes the patient to suffer intense horror, fear, and a sense of foreboding. Physical symptoms of a panic attack are very similar to symptoms for an individual in real danger. These may include increased heart rate or palpitations, profuse sweating, weakness, faintness, and dizziness. The prominent feature differentiating a panic attack from rational fear is the absence of actual danger. The American Psychological Association reports that one in 75 Americans or 6 million people experience panic attacks, usually during the late teens or early 20s. Often these attacks are associated with the stressful transitions common to this time of life. If a person experiences numerous attacks or extended periods of fear causing an attack, this person may have a panic disorder.

The DSM divides these conditions based upon whether agoraphobia is present. Unlike phobias, panic disorders stem from the fear of another attack, not an object or ...