Sensation-Focused Intensive Treatment for panic disorder with moderate to severe agoraphobia

The current article presents a detailed description of an intensive treatment program for panic disorder with moderate to severe levels of agoraphobia (PDA), called Sensation-Focused Intensive Treatment (SFIT). Although the efficacy of traditional CBT treatment programs has been well established for the treatment of PDA, patients with moderate to severe levels of agoraphobia generally do worse, and those with residual agoraphobia at the end of treatment are at greater risk for relapse. SFIT is an 8-day treatment program that directly targets feared physical sensations and agoraphobic avoidance. SFIT combines techniques used in traditional CBT along with intensive, ungraded, massed exposure. Preliminary data support the utility and durability of this intensive treatment program for those with moderate to severe levels of agoraphobia.