Australian and New Zealand psychologists’ perceptions and use of therapist-guided exposure for panic disorder

Abstract

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has the strongest evidentiary support for the treatment of panic disorder. Specifically, interoceptive exposure (IE) has been found to be a critical component in the research literature. International studies have suggested that psychologists often avoid undertaking IE or do so in ways not consistent with evidence-based practice. Objective: This study investigated whether this was true within an Australian and New Zealand context. Method: A sample of 164 participants was included in an analysis of treatment modalities employed, exposure therapy implementation practices, use of other arousal reduction strategies and psychometric measures, negative beliefs regarding exposure therapy, general risk orientation, and self-reported actual treatment outcomes. Results: Results revealed a wide variety of treatment models and implementation of exposure therapy techniques, influenced by widespread negative beliefs about exposure therapy which were significantly positively correlated with lower success rates in treatment outcomes. Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for further research into the quality of current training methodologies, supervision practices, and ongoing professional development standards for exposure therapy techniques in the Australian and New Zealand contexts.