Panic disorder: presentation of a clinical case and «second wave» cognitive-behavioural treatment integrated with «third wave» therapy - Compassion Focused Therapy
Maria Silvia Tigani, Francesco Vincelli, Giovanni Capoderose
This paper describes the conceptualisation and cognitive behavioural treatment of a case of panic
disorder in a 39-year-old woman. The assessment phase — with the administration of instruments
such as functional analysis forms, the Cognitive Behavioural Assessment 2.0 (CBA 2.0), the Valued Living
Questionnaire (VLQ), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II (AAQ – II) and the Panic Rating Scale
(Wells, 1997) — was followed by a conceptualisation of the case according to the «Four P’s» model
by Johnson (1997). The treatment exposure was divided into two areas. The first was related to the
symptomatology of panic disorder, treated using the model of panic disorder proposed by Clark (1986)
and behavioural strategies of exposure. Then attention was focused on the relational area treated
with assertive training. With regard to the latter, since a strong tendency towards self-criticism was
identified in the patient, we decided to intervene by strengthening resources, integrating Compassion
Focused Therapy (TFC, Gilbert, 2005). At the end of the treatment the patient reported a complete
remission of symptoms, a better quality of social relationships and an inner dialogue reported as kinder
and more comforting.
Keywords
Panic Disorder, Case Conceptualisation, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy,
Assertive Training, Compassion Focused Therapy.
