Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
2-2018
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Program
Psychology
Advisor
Steven Tuber
Committee Members
Steven Tuber
Barbara Milrod
Denise Hien
Diana Punales
Ben Harris
Subject Categories
Clinical Psychology
Abstract
This exploratory study examined the relationship among reflective functioning (RF), history of childhood trauma, and symptoms of depersonalization and derealization in an attempt to provide a more nuanced clinical picture of panic disorder.
All analyses were conducted using baseline data collected as part of the “Dynamic therapy vs. CBT for Panic Disorder” study at Weill Cornell Medical College and the University of Pennsylvania. The study participants were 201 patients with a primary DSM-IV diagnosis of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia who completed the parent study.
While there was a significant relationship found between trauma and panic severity at one of the sites, t(95) = -2.44, p = .009, as well as between trauma and ratings of reflective functioning at the other, t(82) = 1.70, p = .047, there were no significant findings related to the study hypotheses supported by data across both sites. Notably, however, demographic characteristics such as race and age made significant contributions to the variability in scores of depersonalization/ derealization for both sites. In addition, the presence of this sample’s large incidence of childhood trauma (62% at site 1 and 64% at site 2) has potential implications for the way panic disorder should be conceptualized and treated.
Recommended Citation
Kay, Sarah J., "The Relationship Among Reflective Functioning, History of Childhood Trauma, and Symptoms of Depersonalization and Derealization in Patients with Panic Disorder" (2018). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2513