PANIC DISORDER IN ASSOCIATION WITH RELAXATION INDUCED ANXIETY - AN ATTENTIONAL TRAINING APPROACH TO TREATMENT

A case of relaxation induced anxiety in a patient with Panic Disorder is reported. The study reports the use of an attentional training procedure which was effective in eliminating panic and facilitated tension reduction without producing anxiety. A two treatment (ABCB) design revealed that a procedure evoking external attentional focus eliminated panic attacks, whereas autogenic training increased the frequency of panic attacks and the intensity of anxiety. The possible roles of self-focus in mediating panic and the effects of relaxation are briefly discussed. © 1990 Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy. All rights reserved.