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The British Journal of Psychiatry : the... Sep 2022Psychotherapies are the treatment of choice for panic disorder, but which should be considered as first-line treatment is yet to be substantiated by evidence. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Comparative efficacy and acceptability of psychotherapies for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
BACKGROUND
Psychotherapies are the treatment of choice for panic disorder, but which should be considered as first-line treatment is yet to be substantiated by evidence.
AIMS
To examine the most effective and accepted psychotherapy for the acute phase of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia via a network meta-analysis.
METHOD
We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to examine the most effective and accepted psychotherapy for the acute phase of panic disorder. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo and CENTRAL, from inception to 1 Jan 2021 for RCTs. Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines were used. Pairwise and network meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model. Confidence in the evidence was assessed using Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis (CINeMA). The protocol was published in a peer-reviewed journal and in PROSPERO (CRD42020206258).
RESULTS
We included 136 RCTs in the systematic review. Taking into consideration efficacy (7352 participants), acceptability (6862 participants) and the CINeMA confidence in evidence appraisal, the best interventions in comparison with treatment as usual (TAU) were cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) (for efficacy: standardised mean differences s.m.d. = -0.67, 95% CI -0.95 to -0.39; CINeMA: moderate; for acceptability: relative risk RR = 1.21, 95% CI -0.94 to 1.56; CINeMA: moderate) and short-term psychodynamic therapy (for efficacy: s.m.d. = -0.61, 95% CI -1.15 to -0.07; CINeMA: low; for acceptability: RR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.54-1.54; CINeMA: moderate). After removing RCTs at high risk of bias only CBT remained more efficacious than TAU.
CONCLUSIONS
CBT and short-term psychodynamic therapy are reasonable first-line choices. Studies with high risk of bias tend to inflate the overall efficacy of treatments. Results from this systematic review and network meta-analysis should inform clinicians and guidelines.
Topics: Agoraphobia; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Humans; Network Meta-Analysis; Panic Disorder; Psychotherapy; Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 35049483
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2021.148 -
Journal of Behavior Therapy and... Jun 2023Panic disorder is defined by recurring and unexpected panic attacks, accompanied by anticipatory anxiety about future attacks and their consequences. This generally... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Panic disorder is defined by recurring and unexpected panic attacks, accompanied by anticipatory anxiety about future attacks and their consequences. This generally involves avoiding situations and behaviors that can produce panic attacks (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Among anxiety disorders, panic disorder is associated with some of the greatest burdens in terms of personal suffering, occupational disability, and societal cost. The objective of this article is to systematically identify and review the empirical literature on emotional management processes and strategies associated with panic disorder, with the aim of evaluating their role in the development and maintenance of panic disorder, in order to better understand the pathogenesis of the disorder and guide clinicians to improve their current treatments.
METHODS
Four databases were searched for studies which were based on self-reported questionnaires or a methodology based on an experimental procedure.
RESULTS
Of the 1719 articles identified, 61 referred to different aspects of emotional management. People living with PD are characterized by low emotional intelligence levels, excessive use of suppression, impaired cognitive reappraisal, high levels of alexithymia and maladaptive coping strategies.
LIMITATIONS
Most of the reviewed studies used measures of emotional management in cross-sectional models and were based on self-assessment reports.
CONCLUSIONS
Improving emotional intelligence levels is key to increasing emotion regulation flexibility for people living with PD. Automatic cognitive reappraisal impairment in these people indicates low importance of cognitive restructuring in psychotherapeutic treatment.
Topics: Humans; Panic Disorder; Affective Symptoms; Emotional Regulation; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emotions; Emotional Intelligence; Adaptation, Psychological
PubMed: 36680910
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2023.101835 -
Psychological Medicine Jun 2023Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) is a well-established first-line intervention for anxiety-related disorders, including specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, panic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) is a well-established first-line intervention for anxiety-related disorders, including specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder/agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Several neural predictors of CBT outcome for anxiety-related disorders have been proposed, but previous results are inconsistent.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies investigating whole-brain predictors of CBT outcome in anxiety-related disorders (17 studies, = 442).
RESULTS
Across different tasks, we observed that brain response in a network of regions involved in salience and interoception processing, encompassing fronto-insular (the right inferior frontal gyrus-anterior insular cortex) and fronto-limbic (the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex-dorsal anterior cingulate cortex) cortices was strongly associated with a positive CBT outcome.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that there are robust neural predictors of CBT outcome in anxiety-related disorders that may eventually lead (probably in combination with other data) to develop personalized approaches for the treatment of these mental disorders.
Topics: Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Anxiety Disorders; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Anxiety; Cognition
PubMed: 35916600
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291721005444 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Jun 2023Heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with emotional disorders and healthy controls (HCs) has been investigated in many studies but the difference between these... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with emotional disorders and healthy controls (HCs) has been investigated in many studies but the difference between these emotional disorders was unclear.
METHODS
The PubMed, Embase, Medline and Web of Science databases were systematically searched for studies published in English that compared HCs with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive disorder (MDD), panic disorder (PD) patients in HRV. We conducted a network meta-analysis to compare HRV in patients with GAD, MDD, PD and HCs. HRV outcomes, including time domain indices (the standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN) and the root mean square of the successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD)), and frequency domain indices (High-frequency (HF), Low-frequency (LF) and the ratio of LF to HF (LF/HF)) were obtained. A total of 4008 participants from 42 studies were included.
RESULTS
The results of pairwise meta-analysis showed that compared with controls, GAD, PD and MDD patients exhibited significantly reduced HRV. Similar findings were also confirmed in network meta-analysis. The most important finding from network meta-analysis was that GAD patients had significantly lower SDNN than PD patients (SMD = -0.60, 95 % CI [-1.09, -0.11]).
CONCLUSION
Our findings provided a potential objective biological marker to distinguish between GAD and PD. In the future, a large sample of research is needed to directly compare HRV of various mental disorders, which is crucial for finding biomarkers to distinguish them.
Topics: Humans; Panic Disorder; Depressive Disorder, Major; Heart Rate; Network Meta-Analysis; Anxiety Disorders
PubMed: 36914118
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.03.018 -
Psychology and Aging Mar 2021This systematic review and meta-analysis compared prevalence rates for subthreshold anxiety and anxiety disorders in adults aged 55+ and examined if these rates were... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis compared prevalence rates for subthreshold anxiety and anxiety disorders in adults aged 55+ and examined if these rates were associated with age. A systematic search and screening procedure resulted in 46 included articles. First, prevalence rates for subthreshold anxiety and anxiety disorders were statistically compared. Subthreshold panic, generalized anxiety and specific phobia were significantly more prevalent than the corresponding clinical disorders. In general, subthreshold anxiety appeared to be at least similarly prevalent to anxiety disorders, although firm conclusions are precluded due to the small number of samples that could be included in the analyses and the large heterogeneity between the reported prevalence rates. Second, using subgroup analyses, pooled prevalence rates for four age groups of older adults (55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+) were compared. For specific phobia, the 75-84 and 85+ groups had significantly lower prevalence rates than the 55-64 and 65-74 groups. Posttraumatic stress disorder was significantly more prevalent in the 55-64 group than in the other age groups, and lowest in the 85+ group. No other significant differences between age groups were found. The association between later life subthreshold anxiety and age could not be examined due to a lack of reported information. The main limitation of this study is the small number of samples in the analyses, which limits their power and generalizability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety Disorders; Humans; Middle Aged; Prevalence
PubMed: 33180519
DOI: 10.1037/pag0000529 -
General Psychiatry 2019Cognitive-behavioural theories of panic disorder posit that panic attacks arise from a positive feedback loop between arousal-related bodily sensations and perceived... (Review)
Review
Assessing vulnerability to panic: a systematic review of psychological and physiological responses to biological challenges as prospective predictors of panic attacks and panic disorder.
BACKGROUND
Cognitive-behavioural theories of panic disorder posit that panic attacks arise from a positive feedback loop between arousal-related bodily sensations and perceived threat. In a recently developed computational model formalising these theories of panic attacks, it was observed that the response to a simulated perturbation to arousal provided a strong indicator of vulnerability to panic attacks and panic disorder. In this review, we evaluate whether this observation is borne out in the empirical literature that has examined responses to biological challenge (eg, CO inhalation) and their relation to subsequent panic attacks and panic disorder.
METHOD
We searched PubMed, Web of Science and PsycINFO using keywords denoting provocation agents (eg, sodium lactate) and procedures (eg, infusion) combined with keywords relevant to panic disorder (eg, panic). Articles were eligible if they used response to a biological challenge paradigm to prospectively predict panic attacks or panic disorder.
RESULTS
We identified four eligible studies. Pooled effect sizes suggest that there is biological challenge response has a moderate prospective association with subsequent panic attacks, but no prospective relationship with panic disorder.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings provide support for the prediction derived from cognitive-behavioural theories and some preliminary evidence that response to a biological challenge may have clinical utility as a marker of vulnerability to panic attacks pending further research and development.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
135908.
PubMed: 31922089
DOI: 10.1136/gpsych-2019-100140 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Sep 2014Panic disorder is common in the general population. It is often associated with other psychiatric disorders, such as drug dependence, major depression, bipolar disorder,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Panic disorder is common in the general population. It is often associated with other psychiatric disorders, such as drug dependence, major depression, bipolar disorder, social phobia, specific phobia and generalised anxiety disorder. Azapirones are a class of drugs used as anxiolytics. They are associated with less drowsiness, psychomotor impairment, alcohol potentiation and potential for addiction or abuse than benzodiazepines. However, azapirones are not widely used in the treatment of panic disorder and evidence for their efficacy is unclear. It is important to find out if azapirones are effective and acceptable in the treatment of panic disorder.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of azapirones on panic disorder in adults, specifically:1. to determine the efficacy of azapirones in alleviating symptoms of panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, in comparison with placebo;2. to review the acceptability of azapirones in panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, in comparison with placebo; and3. to investigate adverse effects of azapirones in panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, including general prevalence of adverse effects, compared with placebo.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Depression Anxiety and Neurosis Group Trials Specialised Register (CCDANCTR, search date: 10th January 2014), which includes relevant randomised controlled trials from The Cochrane Library (all years), MEDLINE (1950-), EMBASE (1974-), and PsycINFO (1967-).
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials that compared azapirones with placebo for panic disorder in adults.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Three review authors independently identified studies, assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information.
MAIN RESULTS
Three studies involving 170 participants compared the azapirone buspirone with placebo. No study provided enough usable information on our primary efficacy outcome (response). For our primary acceptability outcome, moderate-quality evidence indicated that azapirones had lower acceptability than placebo: risk ratio (RR) for dropouts for any reason 2.13 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11 to 4.07; 3 studies, 170 participants. Evidence for secondary efficacy outcomes were of low quality. Results on efficacy between azapirone and placebo in terms of agoraphobia (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.01, 95% CI -0.56 to 0.53; 1 study, 52 participants), general anxiety (mean difference (MD) -2.20, 95% CI -5.45 to 1.06; 2 studies, 115 participants) and depression (MD -1.80, 95% CI -5.60 to 2.00; 1 study, 52 participants) were uncertain. None of the studies provided information for the assessment of allocation concealment or sequence generation. Conflicts of interest were not explicitly expressed. The risk of attrition bias was rated high for all three studies. Information on adverse effects other than dropouts for any reason was insufficient to include in the analyses.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
The efficacy of azapirones is uncertain due to the lack of meta-analysable data for the primary outcome and low-quality evidence for secondary efficacy outcomes. A small amount of moderate-quality evidence suggested that the acceptability of azapirones for panic disorder was lower than for placebo. However, only trials of one azapirone (namely buspirone) were included in this review; this, combined with the small sample size, limits our conclusions. If further research is to be conducted, studies with larger sample sizes, with different azapirones and with less risk of bias are necessary to draw firm conclusions regarding azapirones for panic disorder.
Topics: Adult; Agoraphobia; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Buspirone; Humans; Panic Disorder; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 25268297
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010828.pub2 -
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry Oct 2014To systematically evaluate the literature on anxiety disorders during pregnancy. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To systematically evaluate the literature on anxiety disorders during pregnancy.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched through October 2013 for original research studies published in English using combinations of the terms pregnancy, prenatal, or pregnancy outcomes; anxiety disorder; and generalized anxiety. Reference lists of included studies were hand-searched and a PubMed search for in-process reports was conducted.
STUDY SELECTION
Relevant studies of anxiety disorders during pregnancy as determined by diagnostic interview were included if they reported on prevalence; course, onset, and/or risk factors; maternal, obstetric, or fetal/child outcomes; and/or treatment trial results.
DATA EXTRACTION
Two reviewers independently extracted relevant data and assessed methodological quality of each study.
RESULTS
Fifty-seven reports were included. Reports provided information on panic disorder (25 reports), generalized anxiety disorder (17 reports), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (23 reports), agoraphobia (6 reports), specific phobia (10 reports), social phobia (14 reports), posttraumatic stress disorder (14 reports), and any anxiety disorder (18 reports). Twenty reports provided information on prevalence, 16 on course, 10 on risk factors, and 22 on outcomes. Only 1 treatment study was identified. High anxiety disorder prevalence in pregnancy was found; however, estimates vary considerably, and evidence is inconclusive as to whether prevalence among pregnant women differs from that of nonpregnant populations. Considerable variation in prenatal course of OCD and panic disorder was found. Substantial heterogeneity limits conclusions regarding risk factors or outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS
Additional research of higher methodological quality is required to more accurately determine prevalence, understand course, identify risk factors and outcomes, and determine effective treatments for anxiety disorders in pregnancy.
Topics: Anxiety Disorders; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications
PubMed: 25373126
DOI: 10.4088/JCP.14r09035 -
Asian Journal of Psychiatry Jun 2021This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy and acceptability of the different types of antidepressants and benzodiazepines for the treatment of panic disorder... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy and acceptability of the different types of antidepressants and benzodiazepines for the treatment of panic disorder (PD) in adult patients.
METHODS
PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 1995 and 2020 on the use of antidepressants and benzodiazepines for the treatment of PD. A systematic review and network meta-analysis were performed.
RESULTS
42 RCTs were included in the network meta-analysis, with a comparison of 11 interventions.Escitalopram (odds ratios OR 1.52, 95 % credible interval CI 1.09-2.10), venlafaxine (OR 1.33, 95 % CI 1.16-1.51) and benzodiazepines (OR 1.50, 95 % CI 1.29-1.75) had greater efficacy and acceptability than the placebo. Imipramine(OR 1.43, 95 % CI 1.15-1.79) was also demonstrated to be efficacious and tolerated but the results were restricted to small sample size. Moreover, paroxetine, sertraline, fluoxetine, citalopram and clomipramine (OR 1.37, 1.36, 1.45, 1.33 and 1.36, respectively) were more efficacious, although the acceptability of paroxetine and sertraline were significantly less tolerated than benzodiazepines. Notably, the efficacy of reboxetine and fluvoxamine were merely as equal as that of the placebo.
OUTCOMES
This is the first systematic review of antidepressants and benzodiazepines for the treatment of PD to use a network analysis. Escitalopram and venlafaxine as well as benzodiazepines may be effective choices as treatments for PD with relatively good acceptability, which still needs to be confirmed byhigh-quality RCTs.
Topics: Adult; Antidepressive Agents; Benzodiazepines; Humans; Network Meta-Analysis; Panic Disorder; Paroxetine
PubMed: 33965693
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102664 -
Depression and Anxiety Aug 2016A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to explore the efficacy of medication augmentation strategies compared to control treatments in patients who have had... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to explore the efficacy of medication augmentation strategies compared to control treatments in patients who have had a partial or no response to initial treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder.
METHODS
Double-blind controlled trials of medication augmentation in adult treatment-resistant anxiety disorders conducted between January 1990 and January 2015 were systematically reviewed and evaluated by two independent raters. The search identified 625 articles; 610 were excluded following abstract review and 15 had full-text screening. Studies had to include a definition of treatment resistance, exclude concomitant medications, and have a parallel or crossover design. Data extraction forms were completed in duplicate.
RESULTS
Six studies were included in the meta-analysis. Effect estimates were calculated using random effects modeling; heterogeneity was assessed and subgroup and sensitivity analyses were completed. Primary outcome was response, defined by Clinical Global Impression-Improvement score of ≤2. Augmentation was not associated with an increased risk of response, as compared with placebo (RR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.94-1.24). A small significant effect was found in reduction in symptom severity: standard mean difference = -0.32, 95% CI = -0.56 to -0.08. No significant differences between augmentation with medication versus placebo were found in ratings of functional impairment and dropouts due to adverse events.
CONCLUSIONS
Augmentation does not appear to be beneficial in treatment-resistant anxiety disorders. These results may be limited by small study samples, and a small number of overall studies in the analysis.
Topics: Anxiety Disorders; Drug Synergism; Humans
PubMed: 27175543
DOI: 10.1002/da.22525