Adolescent Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia Intensive Treatment Center

Study staff will first conduct an initial phone screen
If we still believe the adolescent may benefit from the study, a diagnostic assessment is scheduled to further determine eligibility of interested families

Local families are assessed at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders in Boston
Out-of-state families are assessed via phone for the diagnostic assessment

Treatment may be available with a clinician at the Center in Boston for local families
Referrals can be provided for families who decide not to seek treatment at the Center or are from out-of-town

Study Procedures

The First Steps

If eligible, the adolescent and legal guardian:

Sign informed assent/consent forms agreeing to participate in the study, participant is completely voluntary
Will then be randomly assigned to receive the intensive treatment with family involvement, intensive treatment without family involvement, or to a waitlist control condition. After 6 weeks, waitlist participants are randomly assigned to one of the two family treatment conditions
Are scheduled to come in for the 8-day treatment (we encourage you to arrive in Boston at least one day prior to beginning treatment)

The Treatment

Runs 8 days, from Monday – Monday:

Days 1-3: anxiety and panic disorder psychoeducation and skill building
Days 4-5: learn ways to approach previously feared and/or avoided situations using the newly gained therapeutic skills and the support of the therapist
Days 6-7: continued practice of these therapeutic skills
Day 8: review of the independent weekend (day 6-7) activities, address relapse prevention and the generalization of these skills to the home environment

Follow-Ups

Families will be asked to participate in telephone assessments:

Families will be compensated for their time upon completion of the assessment ($50 per assessment)