An Evaluation of Outpatient Clinic Services for Patients with Panic Disorder

Abstract

The study is an evaluation of treatment services that are provided to patients with panic disorder at an outpatient mental health clinic. A mail survey was used to contact patients who had completed therapy at the clinic between January 1987 and October 1989. Responses were obtained from 21 individuals (representing a 70% response rate). Results indicated that 14 of 21 patients (66%) no longer meet diagnostic criteria for panic disorder. However, even among these successfully treated patients, some continued to have occasional panic attacks, and others acknowledged a significant level of psychological distress. In general, patients expressed high levels of satisfaction with the clinic services, and they provided important feedback concerning the effectiveness of different treatment modalities. On the basis of these results, the authors discuss a number of suggestions for improving the operation of the clinic.