The present study examined the role of automatic associations
towards panic-related bodily sensations and agoraphobia-related
situations by means of an EAST. However, results did not confirm
our expectations. First, there was no group difference in EAST difference
scores. That is, panic patients did not show stronger
negative, automatic associations towards panic-related bodily
sensations and agoraphobia-related situations than healthy controls.
This, in combination with the general mixed findings in this
context, makes it difficult to evaluate the role of automatic, panicrelated
associations in relation to the underlying theory. Hence, on
the one hand, future research is needed to continue testing predictions of cognitive models in PD. On the other hand, present
theoretical approaches may need to be refined. Correlational analyses
showed that EAST effects were not associated with panicrelevant
self-report measures. A limitation of the present study is
that it did not include a procedure to activate panic-related associations
(e.g., hyperventilation), which might have been needed for
a full activation of the panic-related memory schemata.