Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Case Study of Panic Disorder

Abstract

This case intended to explore the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral approach in treating symptoms associated with panic disorder. Panic disorder is among the anxiety disorders characterized by the reappearance of unexpected panic attacks, in which intense fear escorted by a series of physical and/or cognitive symptoms that develops abruptly, without any ostensive external cause (APA, 2022), and CBT has been found to be the most efficacious treatment among other psychological therapies (Pompoli et al., 2018). Therefore, it was needed to build indigenous data regarding the efficacy of CBT in Panic disorder. A single-case study design for an in-depth understanding of the disorder’s dynamics has been chosen. This study was done on a 41-year-old married female having panic disorder (DSM-V Criteria) and was assessed and treated at the Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi, from December 2022 to June 2023. During the psychological assessment phase various tools including CBT assessment forms, Severity measure for Panic disorder-Adult, and projective tests were utilized. In treatment phase, techniques of CBT were applied to address the clients’ distorted thinking patterns in order to reduce panic attacks. Methods such as cognitive reconstruction, relaxation exercises and behavioral strategies aided the client in managing anxious thoughts and concerns more effectively. It was found that the use of CBT techniques led to the enhancements in clients functioning, elimination of panic attacks and a decrease the fear associated with death. The outcomes and the client’s progress demonstrated that employing CBT is a proven method for addressing panic disorder.