Two research studies, using the Rhythmic Integration
Panic Protocol, showed immediate marked drops in panic frequency. The change followed one guided 90 minutes or less session.
Participants had long histories of frequent
panic attacks. Most had tried various interventions. The results lasted.
Study 1: Subjects went
from an average of 9.6 panic attacks in the month previous to the intervention;
to .6 after one week, .2, after one year.
Robbins, R. Body Approaches to the Treatment of Panic, in Schmidt and Warner,
Panic: Origins, Insights and Treatment. North Atlantic Books: Berkeley, 2002.
Robbins, R. Validating the One-Session Rhythmic
Integration Panic Protocol (RIPP) Reduction of Panic Attack Frequency:
Replication with New Facilitator. International Society for
the Advancement of Respiratory Psycho-Physiology Meeting. NY, 2010.
Participants in the research rated the
process more comfortable than expected.
Clinical experience following the research confirmed
that most who desire the change and follow the process have marked drops in
panic frequency, and sustained improvement. However a lower rate of successful
outcomes was found with people who came to the session for others. E.g.
"My mother wanted me to come: I did it for her."
Clinical Clients with an ongoing history of
use of medications classified as Benzodiazapines such as Xanax, Paxal, Klonopin, Valium, Ativan, etc. also had lower rates of
success. At this point these applicants are asked to work with a physician to
get free of these types of medications before being seen. For
people who have used these medications for an extended period, this is not an
easy task. It can take considerable time slowly tapering off use.
Before the therapeutic session is scheduled,
perspective applicants are screened to insure that the process is appropriate
for them.
People leave the session with a markedly
different attitude toward panic. Some are confident that based on what they had learned, the session had worked
for them and they wouldn't have attacks. Others
reserve judgment, and wish to wait and see. In either case drops in panic
frequency begin immediately, or when there is a need, after the one-week follow-up call.
The follow-up telephone interviews are set up to
answer any questions and/or work with secondary problems such as related
phobias.
The research data provides evidence-based "proof
of concept" support validating the use of the method. On the face of it,
the fact that a series of long term sufferers were able to get marked lasting
change after one session further supports validity. This would not be expected by
chance.
Further
research using different facilitators and
different settings and different
research designs are indicated. Such research would require training in the use
of the protocol and demonstrated facility in its application before study would
begin.