Project Details
Projekt
The role of dysfunctional associations and interpretations in panic disorder: An etiological approach.
Subject Area
Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
Term
from 2016 to 2023
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 314131517
Panic Disorder (PD) is a severe anxiety disorder and has a huge impact not only on personal wellbeing, but also on social and occupational functioning. Current treatments are guided by models stressing the role of cognitive factors in the etiology and maintenance of PD, in particular panic-related associations and interpretations. According to these models, panic-related associations are automatic and occur beyond an individuals control. In contrast, panic-related interpretations are explicit and of reflective nature. However, when examining the psychological models and associated research, a number of problems are revealed. First, results from studies investigating panic-related associations are highly heterogeneous. Second, the operationalizations used to assess panic-related associations have been inadequate. Third, panic-related interpretations have been studied by means of one paradigm only. Fourth, studies addressing panic-related associations and interpretations over the course of treatment are scarce and partly contradictory. The present proposal aims to overcome these problems by conducting fundamental research, including the application of novel and improved paradigms that are closely designed along the predictions of contemporary models of PD. Study 1 involves a cross-sectional approach, comparing panic-related associations and interpretations in PD patients, anxious control patients and healthy controls. Study 2 involves a longitudinal approach, examining panic-related associations and interpretations over the course of treatment in PD and anxious control patients. Study 3 involves testing an analogue risk sample to further validate the clinical significance of the paradigms applied in Study 1 and Study 2 concerning panic-related symptomatology. Following this, our project will provide a first step towards a fundamental and structural understanding of panic-related associations and interpretations. Hence, this research project will be crucial for the understanding of the underlying cognitive mechanisms in PD, and will therefore provide a valuable contribution to theory refinement and development.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
International Connection
United Kingdom
Cooperation Partner
Dr. Andrea Reinecke
