Pharmacologic Treatment: Does it Hinder CBT Treatment?

A study in Behaviour Research and Therapy examined the outcomes of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) before and after pharmacologic treatment with SSRIs and antidepressants. 105 patients with DSM-IV panic disorder were evaluated with structured clinical interviews. SSRI treatment before CBT was associated with worse outcomes for panic disorder; post-treatment SSRI use was associated with slower improvement in panic disorder severity. Antidepressant use before and after CBT was associated with poorer panic disorder outcomes and higher anxiety, respectively, for CBT patients.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17343821

-LS