Summary: A focused four-day treatment for panic disorder has shown impressive and lasting results, according to new research. Originally developed in Bergen and called Bergen 4-Day Treatment (B4DT), this method delivers rapid relief, with nearly 90% of patients reporting major improvement one week after therapy.
Long-term follow-up studies reveal that not only do patients maintain their gains, but many continue to improve months after treatment. This brief yet powerful approach also reduces symptoms of general anxiety and depression, suggesting broad benefits beyond panic disorder alone.
Key Facts:
- Enduring Results: Patients report even better outcomes months after the 4-day treatment than immediately after.
- Rapid Improvement: Nearly 90% experience clear symptom relief within one week.
- Broad Benefits: The
Source: NTNU
Panic attacks can be extremely unpleasant and can cause intense fear. If you experience these attacks regularly, professionals call it panic disorder.
A method to treat the disorder was developed some time ago in Bergen. It runs over four days and is called the Bergen 4-Day Treatment (B4DT).
Previous research has confirmed that this treatment is a good method to quickly help patients with panic disorder.
One week after treatment, almost 90 per cent of patients experience a clear improvement.
But what about the long-term effect? New research has good news to report.
Amazing results
“It turns out that the improvement not only persists, but it actually gets stronger over time for many,” said Kristen Hagen, a psychologist and associate professor at NTNU. Hagen is the project manager and senior author of two studies recently published in BMC Psychiatry.
“With long-term follow-up, patients report that they feel even better – than immediately after therapy and at the follow-up three months after,” says Hagen.
“The fact that patients get even better over time is simply remarkable,” he says.
The studies also show that the treatment not only reduces panic disorder symptoms, but also symptoms of general anxiety and depression.
Hagen says that despite the good results of the studies, they need to be confirmed with a larger number of patients.
How the treatment works
Instead of dragging the treatment over many weeks, the B4DT method is carried out intensively over four days in the same week.
Three to six patients meet in groups with a corresponding number of therapists.
The patients receive tailored treatment where they practice seeking out symptoms, situations and situations that can trigger anxiety. The patient has often avoided these situations for a long time.
In this therapy, patients face the difficult in a different and more appropriate way. This gives patients insight into the fact that it is the panic disorder and not real causes that have made them fear situations.
Almost 9 out of 10 patients report great improvement with this method. They have minimal symptoms and function relatively well in everyday life afterwards.
The method was developed to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, but has been adapted to treat other mental disorders such as panic disorder.
About this panic disorder research news
Author: Nancy Bazilchuk
Source: NTNU
Contact: Nancy Bazilchuk – NTNU
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“The bergen 4-day treatment for panic disorder: a longer-term follow-up” by Kristen Hagen et al. BMC Psychiatry
Open access.
“The Bergen 4-Day Treatment for panic disorder patients in a rural clinical setting: a long-term follow-up study” by Kristen Hagen et al. BMC Psychiatry
Abstract
The bergen 4-day treatment for panic disorder: a longer-term follow-up
Introduction
Bergen 4-Day treatment (B4DT) is a form of concentrated exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in which patients receive treatment over four consecutive days. Previous studies have shown B4DT to be a promising treatment format for panic disorder (PD), although the long-term stability of treatment gains requires additional study.
Aim
The aim of the current study was to evaluate the longer-term effectiveness of B4DT for patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. This study extends a previously published study by providing a long-term follow-up of the same cohort (n = 30), initially assessed at three months post-treatment.
Method
Thirty patients with panic disorder were consecutively included in a retrospect open trial. The primary outcome measure was the Panic Disorder Severity Scale. The secondary outcome measures were the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Outcomes were assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment, 3-month follow-up, and longer-term follow-up (with a mean time of 18 months).
Results
There was a significant reduction in panic disorder symptoms from pretreatment to longer-term follow-up (d = 5.03, 95% CI [18.55, 21.12] to [1.33, 3.87]).
The Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) mean decreased from 19.83 (SD = 0.64, 95% CI [18.55, 21.12]) before treatment, to 4.37 (SD = 0.64, 95% CI [2.98, 5.76]) post-treatment, followed by further decreases at the 3-month follow-up to a mean of 2.84 (SD = 0.64, 95% CI [1.45, 4.22]), and at the longer-term follow-up to 2.60 (SD = 0.64, 95% CI [1.33, 3.87]). There was no significant difference in symptom severity between the 3-month and 18-month assessments, indicating a sustained improvement (p <.001).
At the 18-month follow-up, 90% of the patients were classified as being in remission. There were also significant reductions in symptoms of depression (d = 1.44) and generalized anxiety (d = 1.62) that were maintained at the longer-term follow-up assessment.
Conclusion
The results from the current study indicated that the treatment effects of B4DT are stable over time and that the treatment format appears to be promising for PD. Confirming these preliminary results in rigorous study designs is needed.
Trial registration
The study was approved by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics of Northern Norway (REK Nord-2021/209619).
Abstract
The Bergen 4-Day Treatment for panic disorder patients in a rural clinical setting: a long-term follow-up study
Background
The Bergen 4-Day Treatment (B4DT) is a concentrated cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) approach that has shown promise in treating panic disorder (PD). However, the effectiveness of the B4DT, particularly regarding long-term outcomes in rural clinical settings, remains underexplored.
Methods
A total of 58 patients were included using a naturalistic open-label trial design. Patients were assessed at 12-month follow-up. Measures included the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7).
Results
The study revealed significant and lasting reductions in PD symptoms, with a high rate of remission maintained at 12-month follow-up (82.8%). Regarding the secondary outcomes, significant improvements in symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety were also shown.
Conclusions
The B4DT represents a promising treatment approach for PD, demonstrating stable long-term outcomes in rural settings. This finding supports the potential of concentrated CBT formats in achieving sustained symptom improvement in patients with PD, warranting further investigation and broader implementation.
Trial registration
The study was reviewed by the Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics Northern Norway, REK North (REK Nord2021/273145).
