Patient Prefer Adherence. 2011;5:575-80. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S26594. Epub 2011 Nov 18.

Noninvasive brain stimulation by radioelectric asymmetric conveyor in the treatment of agoraphobia: open-label, naturalistic study.

Patient preference and adherence

Piero Mannu, Salvatore Rinaldi, Vania Fontani, Alessandro Castagna, Matteo Lotti Margotti

PMID: 22163156 PMCID: PMC3234899 DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S26594

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Agoraphobia is considered to be the most serious complication of panic disorder. It involves progressive development of debilitating anxiety symptoms related to being in situations where one would be extremely embarrassed and could not be rescued in the case of a panic attack. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of noninvasive brain stimulation using a radioelectric asymmetric conveyor (REAC) for agoraphobia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients (3 males and 20 females) suffering from agoraphobia and without a history of panic disorder were evaluated by a psychiatrist using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, and the Agoraphobia Scale (AS). The patients were subjected to two 18-session cycles of noninvasive brain stimulation with the REAC, according to an established therapeutic protocol called neuropsycho-physical optimization.

RESULTS: Analyzing the anxiety and avoidance parameters of the AS after the first and second cycles of REAC treatment revealed variation in levels of response to treatment, including weak (AS item 7), moderate (AS items 10 and 13), and good responses (AS items 1-6, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 14-20).

CONCLUSION: These results highlight the potential of the REAC to treat complex clinical situations such as agoraphobia, which is typically resistant to pharmacologic treatments. Furthermore, these data show the advantages of REAC treatment, even compared with modern cognitive behavioral therapy, including a relatively rapid and "stable" clinical response (just over 6 months) and economic cost.

Keywords: REAC; anxiety; avoidance; fear

References

1. Actas Esp Psiquiatr. 2008 Mar-Apr;36(2):94-101 - PubMed
2. Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2010 Oct 31;173(3):264-73 - PubMed
3. Indian J Med Res. 2010 Aug;132:189-94 - PubMed
4. Behav Modif. 2008 May;32(3):333-51 - PubMed
5. Percept Mot Skills. 2003 Dec;97(3 Pt 2):1223-30 - PubMed
6. Acupunct Electrother Res. 2009;34(3-4):135-49 - PubMed
7. J Clin Psychol. 2007 Apr;63(4):409-16 - PubMed
8. Behav Cogn Psychother. 2010 May;38(3):275-89 - PubMed
9. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2011 Jun;79(3):406-20 - PubMed
10. Funct Neurol. 1991 Oct-Dec;6(4):393-403 - PubMed
11. Behav Res Ther. 1990;28(4):323-9 - PubMed
12. Clin Psychol Rev. 2010 Feb;30(1):37-50 - PubMed
13. Clin Interv Aging. 2011;6:207-11 - PubMed
14. Vertex. 2003 Mar-May;14(51):16-21 - PubMed
15. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2011 Jul 19;9:54 - PubMed
16. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2010 Mar 20;8:31 - PubMed
17. J Clin Psychiatry. 2006 Mar;67(3):363-74 - PubMed
18. Cogn Behav Ther. 2006;35(3):174-82 - PubMed
19. Am J Psychiatry. 1997 Jun;154(6 Suppl):27-38 - PubMed
20. Neurosci Lett. 2010 Jun 21;477(2):77-81 - PubMed
21. Am J Psychiatry. 1995 Oct;152(10):1438-43 - PubMed
22. Indian J Med Res. 2008 Sep;128(3):254-61 - PubMed
23. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2005 Aug;15(4):435-43 - PubMed
24. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2011;7:373-9 - PubMed
25. Compr Psychiatry. 2008 May-Jun;49(3):283-7 - PubMed
26. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2011;7:449-55 - PubMed
27. Behav Res Ther. 2005 Sep;43(9):1219-29 - PubMed

Publication Types

• Journal Article