Panic and agorophbia

Question 1

What are the 3 maintaining factors according to Clark’s cognitive model of panic disorder

Answer 1

1. Catastrophic misinterpretation of bodily symptoms (i.e., racing heart = heart attack)
2. Safety behaviours (usually avoidance)
3. Selective attention to ‘dangerous’ sensations or situations

Question 2

What are the three main interventions for panic disorder?

Answer 2

1. Generating less catastrophic explanations for feared symptoms (i.e., racing heart = anxiety)
2. Behaviour experiments (e.g., discover benign origin of feared sensation, such as intense exercise to increase heart rate)
3. Reduce safety behaviours (e.g., stop avoiding supermarket where you had panic attack, walk through supermarket without leaning on trolley)