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Fear of Autonomic Arousal and Use of Coping Strategies as Predictors of Agoraphobic Avoidance in Panic Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2014

Patricia Rayment  and
Jeff Richards
Patricia Rayment
Affiliation:
University of Adelaide
Jeff Richards*
Affiliation:
University of Ballarat
*
School of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Ballarat, PO Box 663, Ballarat VIC 3353, Australia
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Extract

Despite the very significant proportion of people with panic disorder who have accompanying agoraphobia, there is considerable controversy about the variables that influence the development of this avoidance behaviour. This study investigated whether degree of avoidance is a function of extent of fear and prevalence of negative cognitions about autonomic arousal symptoms and whether the use of, and confidence in, behavioural strategies to cope with panic sensations also influences agoraphobic avoidance. Thirty-nine people who met DSM-IV criteria for panic disorder completed questionnaires measuring fear and negative cognitions about autonomic arousal and panic sensations, and a questionnaire measuring their use of largely behavioural strategies to cope with panic attacks. Fear of autonomic arousal and negative cognitions in response to the occurrence of these arousal symptoms were jointly related to situational avoidance. There was little relationship between the use of, and confidence in, panic coping strategies and less agoraphobic avoidance, although simply allowing panic symptoms to develop and pass predicted less avoidance. The results were interpreted as providing an empirical basis for treatment that reduces fear of panic sensations and allows their experience to be tolerated while preventing escape and avoidance of situations in which panic occurs. There was little evidence that additional teaching of behavioural coping strategies would be useful in reducing agoraphobic avoidance.

Type
Articles
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 15 , Issue 4 , December 1998 , pp. 228 - 236
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1998

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