Healthcare Utilization Following Cognitive‐Behavioral Treatment for Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the overall changes in healthcare services utilization after providing an empirically supported cognitive‐behavioral treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobia. Data on healthcare utilization were collected for a total of 84 adults meeting DSM‐IV criteria. Participants were completers of a cognitive‐behavioral treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobia. Data on utilization of healthcare services and medication were obtained from semi‐structured interviews from baseline to 1‐year after treatment. Results of the Friedman non‐parametric analysis reveal a significant decrease in overall and mental health‐related costs following treatment. This study shows a significant reduction in healthcare costs following cognitive behavior therapy for panic disorder with agoraphobia. More studies are needed to examine the potential long‐term cost‐offset effect of empirically supported treatments for panic disorder.

Keywords:

• panic disorder with agoraphobia
• cognitive behavior therapy
• anxiety disorders
• psychotherapy
• cost study
• medication
• healthcare costs

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the Conseil québécois de la recherche sociale (CQRS) (RS‐3166) and continuous support by the Centre de recherche Fernand‐Seguin, the Clinique d'intervention cognitivo‐comportementale at Hôpital Louis‐H. Lafontaine, the Clinique des troubles anxieux at Hôpital du Sacré‐Coeur and the Université du Québec à Montréal. This research was also supported in part by scholarships for doctoral research from the CQRS (1998–2000) and from the Fonds pour la formation de Chercheurs et l'Aide à la recherche (FCAR) (1996–1998) obtained by the first author, and from the FCAR (2000–2001) and from the Fondation de l'Hôpital Louis‐H. Lafontaine (2000–2001) obtained by the fourth author. We would like to thank the psychologists and psychiatrists who participated in the evaluation and treatment of participants in the study.

Notes

^aValues are expressed as mean (SD) in Canadian dollars for the year 1999.

^bThe baseline healthcare costs represent the combined 3‐month period before inclusion in the research protocol (waiting list: 3–6 months prior to CBT, n = 27; remaining: 0–3 months prior to CBT, n = 57).

^cMarginal result. Only 14 participants consulted a psychiatrist at some point during the course of the study.

^dWhen the information was not provided by participants, an estimation was based on the average cost for the same type of consultation in the sample.