The relative contributions of negative cognitions and self-efficacy to severity of panic attacks in panic disorder
Abstract
Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the degree to which fearful and catastrophic cognitions, and self-efficacy for managing panic predicted various panic attack characteristics in panic disorder. The cognitive variables consisted of anxiety sensitivity, the frequency of fearful agoraphobic cognitions and measures of catastrophic misinterpretation of symptoms. The panic parameters were number and severity of panic symptoms, distress associated with panic attacks, worry about future panics, duration of panic disorder, and life interference due to panic disorder. These variables were measured in 40 people with panic disorder, 31 of whom also had significant agoraphobia. The frequency of fearful agoraphobic cognitions was the strongest predictor of panic attack symptomatology, predicting number of symptoms, symptom severity and degree of anticipatory fear of panic. Catastrophic misinterpretation of symptoms and anxiety sensitivity did not independently predict any panic parameters. Only self-efficacy for managing the rapid build-up of panic symptoms was specifically related to panic severity. The results therefore suggest that cognitive behaviour therapy for panic symptoms in panic disorder should reduce fearful cognitions rather than focus on panic coping strategies. The results offer little support for the contribution of the expectancy or catastrophic misinterpretation theories to the maintenance of panic disorder.
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Lower self-efficacy is related to higher social anxiety and panic attack symptoms.
“Similarly, lower self-efficacy is also related to higher levels of other anxiety symptoms, such as social anxiety (Gaudiano and Herbert, 2007; Thomasson and Psouni, 2010) and panic attack symptoms (Richards et al., 2002).”
From Feeling more confident to encounter negative emotions: The mediating role of distress tolerance on the relationship between self-efficacy and outcomes of exposure and response prevention for OCD (2024) · cites this paper as Richards et al., 2002
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- Authors
- Richards, J. C., Richardson, V., & Pier, C.
- Affiliations
- Federation University (AU)
- The University of Adelaide (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Richards, Jeffrey C.
- Venue
- Behaviour Change
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2002-06-01
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 102-111
- ISSN
- 0813-4839 (ISSN-L)
- 2049-7768
- OpenAlex
- W2070306864
- Cited by
- 21
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 0.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behaviour Change (publishedVersion)
- FedUni ResearchOnline (Federation University Australia) (submittedVersion)
- Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- panic disorder, panic attacks, negative thinking, self-efficacy, catastrophic misinterpretation, anxiety sensitivity, anticipatory fear, cognitive behavioral therapy, symptom severity
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