• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2008

Objective : This article is a part of the Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Panic Disorder, which aims to build consensus regarding the diagnosis, treatment response and achievement of clinical remission for patients with panic disorder in Korea. Methods : The questionnaire used in this article had parts : 1) diagnosis, 2) treatment response, and 3) remission for patients with panic disorder. The questionnaire was completed by each of 54 Korean psychiatrists who had much experience in treating patients with panic disorder. We classified the experts' opinions into 3 categories (first-line, second-line, and third-line) using the ${\chi}^2$-test. Results : Five factors were considered in this research : panic attack, anticipatory anxiety, phobic avoidance, severity of illness, and psychosocial disability. Most reviewers agreed that the presence of a panic attack was the most important factor in the diagnosis of patients with panic disorder. Phobic avoidance was included in the first-line category, whereas the severity of illness and psychosocial disability were included in the second-line category. Most reviewers also agreed that the presence of a panic attack was the most important factor in determining the appropriate treatment response, and it was included in the first-line category along with several other items. To determine remission status, the patients' scores on tests pertaining to the severity of panic attack, anticipatory anxiety, phobic avoidance, severity of illness and psychosocial disability should be less than 3.0-3.3 on a 9-point Likert scale. Conclusion : We suggest useful information for making a diagnosisof panic disorder, determining the appropriate treatment response and identifying remission in panic disorder patients on the basis of the results of a nationwide survey of experts in Korea.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2016

30% of patients with panic disorder (PD) show treatment-resistant and chronic waxing and waning course. Therefore, adequate treatment strategies for PD by evidence based pharmacotherapy and combined cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are recommended. Regarding how and why CBT for PD works, three hypotheses include the cognitive theory, anxiety control theory, and behavioral theory were discussed. The recent findings that the altered activation in frontal lobe is normalized after CBT, suggest a reduction of an altered top-down fear processing in the neural correlates of CBT in PD. In order to improve accessibility to CBT, brief CBT and internet based CBT for PD were suggested. Despite limitations of sample sizes and study design, most of studies suggest that brief CBT is more effective than control conditions, and even as equally effective as standard CBT. The evidences suggest that internet based CBT may not be significantly different from face-to-face CBT in reducing anxiety. Several advances within the field of third-wave CBT for PD have led to the development of new techniques based on mindfulness, such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. Based on Korean algorithm project for panic disorder, especially the psychological education and cognitive reconstruction components were recommended in CBT with PD.