The Intensive Treatment of Adolescent Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia Program
Project Description
The Intensive Treatment of Adolescent Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia Program is offering free treatment for adolescents 12-17 years of age with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia. The Program recruits families from all over the country who are willing to travel to Boston for an 8-day intensive cognitive-behavioral treatment. The study has been found by many patients to help them overcome their panic symptoms and quickly reduce the impairment and distress associated with panic disorder and agoraphobia. Eligible adolescents will receive treatment at no cost but must be able to travel to and stay in Boston for the duration of treatment. The Intensive Treatment of Adolescent Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia is housed within the Child and Adolescent Fear and Treatment Program at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University.
To see the ABC Good Morning America news segment of Dr. Donna Pincus, Director of our Child and Adolescent Fear and Anxiety Treatment Program, treating an adolescent via the Intensive Program. To find out more about the project, please visit the Teen Panic website.
What is our Mission?
The Intensive Treatment of Adolescent Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia Program aims to evaluate the efficacy of an 8-day, intensive treatment for panic disorder in adolescents. This treatment is unique in that it takes place over a short period, allowing adolescents to quickly return to developmentally appropriate activities such as school and extracurriculars. Treatment also teaches adolescents to use specific skills to cope with sensations of panic, change their anxious thoughts, and face anxiety-provoking situations.
Eligibility for participation
Adolescents ages 12-17 who meet DSM-IV-C/P criteria for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia may be eligible for this treatment study. Adolescents may be eligible to participate in this research project whether or not they are currently taking a prescribed psychotropic medication; however, if they are taking a psychoactive medication, there must be a 1-month stabilization period (for benzodiazepines) or 3-month stabilization period (for SSRIs, SNRIs or tricyclics) prior to the initial diagnostic assessment (this is a requirement of all children and adults being evaluated at the Center). No medication will be administered as part of this study. In addition, adolescents must be accompanied by one parent or caregiver for the duration of treatment.
Screening Procedures & Cost
If you are interested in learning more about this project and whether it may be an appropriate option for your adolescent, please contact Sarah Whitton at either (617) 353-9610 or at (panic@bu.edu). Study staff will first conduct an initial phone screen. A diagnostic assessment may be scheduled to further determine eligibility of interested families. Local families are assessed at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders in Boston, while out-of-state families are assessed via phone for the diagnostic assessment. Participation in the Intensive Treatment of Adolescent Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia Program is free of charge for all eligible participants.
Follow-up Contacts and Assessments
Following the 8-day treatment, there will be a post-treatment assessment, 3-month assessment, 6-month assessment, and 12-month assessment by phone. Families completing the follow-up assessments will be compensated for their time ($50 per assessment completed).
Other Treatment Options at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
If your teen is not eligible for the treatment study, but the Center for Anxiety staff believes that treatment for anxiety would be valuable for him/her, treatment may be available with a clinician at the Center for Anxiety. Such treatment options may also be an option for those families who would prefer not to be a part of this research project.
Interested in the Intensive Treatment of Adolescent Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia Program?
If you are interested in having your adolescent screened for this study, or would like more information, feel free to call us at (617) 353-9610, contact us at our project email (panic@bu.edu), or visit our website.
