Cognitions in generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder patients. A prospective approach

• Published in: Behaviour research and therapy Vol. 37; no. 6; pp. 533 - 544
• Main Authors: Breitholtz, E, Johansson, B, Öst, L.-G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.1999; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; Anxiety Disorders - physiopathology; Chi-Square Distribution; Cognition; Cognition & reasoning; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Psychological; Panic attacks; Panic Disorder - diagnosis; Panic Disorder - physiopathology; Personality Inventory - standards; Prospective Studies; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - standards; Self Disclosure; Social Adjustment; THERAPY
• ISSN: 0005-7967; 1873-622X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0005-7967(98)00147-8

Self-observations of cognitions during episodes of anxiety were examined in 38 patients with generalized anxiety disorder and 36 patients with panic disorder. Two independent observers who where blind to the diagnoses categorised the cognitions. The inter-rater reliability was high (mean kappa 0.82). The GAD-patients had significantly more cognitions in the following categories: interpersonal confrontation, competence, acceptance, concern about others and worry over minor matters, while the PD-patients had significantly more cognitions in the physical catastrophe category. Furthermore, GAD-patients with a comorbidity of social phobia reported more cognitions regarding social embarrassment than did GAD-patients with other or no (axis-I) comorbidity. The results of this study support the cognitive theory regarding the cognitive specificity of anxiety disorders. The implications of these results are discussed, along with the issues of reliability and validity of the instrument used.