Psychiatry Investig.  2016 Mar;13(2):196-202. 10.4306/pi.2016.13.2.196.

Impact of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Intolerance of Uncertainty in Patients with Panic Disorder

• Kim MK
• Lee KS
• Kim B
• Choi TK
• Lee SH

• KMID: 2316615
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2016.13.2.196

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a transdiagnostic construct in various anxiety and depressive disorders. However, the relationship between IU and panic symptom severity is not yet fully understood. We examined the relationship between IU, panic, and depressive symptoms during mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in patients with panic disorder.
METHODS
We screened 83 patients with panic disorder and subsequently enrolled 69 of them in the present study. Patients participating in MBCT for panic disorder were evaluated at baseline and at 8 weeks using the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS), Panic Disorder Severity Scale-Self Report (PDSS-SR), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
RESULTS
There was a significant decrease in scores on the IUS (p<0.001), PDSS (p<0.001), and BDI (p<0.001) following MBCT for panic disorder. Pre-treatment IUS scores significantly correlated with pre-treatment PDSS (p=0.003) and BDI (p=0.003) scores. We also found a significant association between the reduction in IU and PDSS after controlling for the reduction in the BDI score (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION
IU may play a critical role in the diagnosis and treatment of panic disorder. MBCT is effective in lowering IU in patients with panic disorder.

Keyword

Intolerance of uncertainty; Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy; Panic disorder

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Cognitive Therapy*
Depression
Depressive Disorder
Diagnosis
Humans
Panic Disorder*
Panic*
Uncertainty*