In the general population, less than five percent of people suffer from panic disorders, and only six percent develop agoraphobia during their lifetime (MacNeil 2001). A diagnosis of panic disorder is made when panic attacks become commonplace, for no apparent reason, and the person begins to change their behavior due to the constant fear of having a panic attack. A person suffering from agoraphobia is afraid of being in a place where no help will be provided in an emergency; one-third to one-half of people diagnosed with panic disorders develop agoraphobia (Hoeksema & Rector, 2011, p. 204). Research examined two well-known ways of treating panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA): cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (alone or combined with two other medications) and experimental cognitive therapy (ECT). Reviewing the research allows each treatment to be compared, as well as to discuss the implications, which helps determine which treatment is most effective for someone suffering from panic disorder with agoraphobia. According to MacNeil (2001), panic disorders tend to be chronic in nature, and most evidence regarding treatment effectiveness relates to relative improvement rather than absolute improvement. In a study, Treatment of Panic Disorders with Agoraphobia in an Anxiety Disorders Clinic, by Vladan Starcevic et al., (2004), they conducted research based on three CBT-focused treatments: CBT alone, CBT with a very potent benzodiazepine (CBT+BZ) and CBT combined with fluoxetine (an antidepressant) and BZ (CBT+BZ+AD). There were one hundred and two selected patients with PDA, seventy-four females and twenty-eight males. All patients had to go through assessment, education...... middle of paper ....... (2011). Anxiety disorders. Abnormal Psychology (Second ed., pp. 198-259). Toronto, Ontario: McGraw-Hill Ryerson. MacNeil, G. (2001). Psychosocial treatment of limited duration for specific panic disorders and agoraphobia. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 1(1), 29-41. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brief-treatment/1.1.29Starcevic, V., Linden, M., Uhlenhuth, EH, Kolar, D. and Latas, M. (2004). Treatment of panic disorder with agoraphobia: Factors influencing the therapeutic choices of psychiatrists. Psychiatry Research, 125(1), 41-52. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2003.11.001 Vincelli, F., Anolli, L., Bouchard, S., Wiederhold, BK, Zurloni, V. and Riva, G. (2003 ). Experiential cognitive therapy in the treatment of panic disorders with agoraphobia: a controlled study. Cyberpsychology and Behavior, 6(3), 321-328. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/109493103322011632