Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 February 2012
Despite its inclusion as a basic component of the cognitive-behavioural treatment for panic disorder, the effects of the provision of information about panic anxiety have not been separately assessed. This study compared information-giving with self-monitoring of panic alone, on panic-related variables and negative affect for 40 people with panic disorder. In comparison to self-monitoring alone, information-giving together with self-monitoring was associated with reductions in anticipatory fear of panic and negative affect, but not panic frequency. These results suggest that provision of information about panic anxiety is an important component of the cognitive-behavioural approach to panic disorder in reducing anxious and depressive affect. The other cognitive-behavioural components of this intervention are required to impact upon specific panic parameters.