Cognitive-behavioral group therapy versus a wait-list control in the treatment of African American women with panic disorder

This study examined the efficacy of group Panic Control Therapy (PCT; D. H. Barlow & M. G. Craske, 1994) for African Americans. Twenty-five African American women were assigned to either a treatment or wait-list control (WLC). Treatment was 11 group sessions, and wait-list participants did not receive any treatment for the same duration. At pretreatment, both groups were moderately anxious and depressed. At posttreatment, the PCT group experienced a significant reduction in panic frequency, avoidance behavior, state and trait anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity. There was no significant change on these variables for the WLC. There was a trend for change in depression among the PCT group only. On average, 54% of the treated group was classified as recovered, 17% as improved but not recovered, and 27% as unimproved. As many as 95% of the WLC were unimproved. The overall effect size of the study was comparable to that reported in previous studies of cognitive treatments incorporating interoceptive exposure with White Americans. These preliminary results suggest that CBT for panic is effective with African American women with panic disorder.