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Objective We tested the relation of perceived criticism from a parent or spouse/romantic partner to outcome of psychotherapy for panic disorder. Method Participants were 130 patients with panic disorder (79% with agoraphobia) who received 24 twice weekly sessions of Panic-Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, or Applied Relaxation Therapy. Patients were predominantly White (75%), female (64%), and non-Hispanic (85%). At baseline, Week 5 of treatment, termination, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up, patients rated perceived criticism from the relative with whom they lived. Independent evaluators assessed the severity of panic disorder at baseline, Weeks 1, 5, and 9 of treatment, termination, and the two follow-up points. Data were analyzed with piecewise (treatment phase, follow-up phase) latent growth curve modeling. Results The latent intercept for perceived criticism at baseline predicted the latent slope for panic severity in the follow-up (p = .04) but not the active treatment phase (p = .50). In contrast, the latent intercept for panic disorder severity at baseline did not predict the latent slope on perceived criticism in either phase (ps ≥ .29). Nor did the slopes of perceived criticism and panic disorder severity covary across treatment (p = .31) or follow-up (p =.13). Indeed, perceived criticism did not change significantly across treatment (p =.45), showing the stability of this perception regardless of significant change in severity of patients’ panic disorder (p < .001). Conclusions Because perceived criticism predicts worse long-term treatment outcome for panic disorder, study findings argue for interventions to address perceived criticism in treatment.

Many men experience depression and anxiety during the transition to parenthood, but characteristics associated with fathers’ distress are less well understood than those for mothers. Among perinatal women, both general cognitive biases and attitudes toward parenthood are associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. The goal of this study was to assess whether these characteristics are associated with psychological distress among fathers. An Internet-based sample of expectant (n = 145) and new (n = 137) first-time fathers completed cross-sectional self-report measures of paternal attitudes, general cognitive biases, relationship quality, social support, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. General cognitive biases and relationship quality were associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety after controlling for other paternal characteristics. Although paternal attitudes were correlated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, they were not significantly associated with symptoms in overall multivariate analyses, and the relationship between paternal attitudes and anxiety differed between expectant and new fathers. These findings suggest that general cognitive biases and relationship quality are strongly associated with paternal distress. Couples-based and cognitive–behavioral interventions may be well-suited for adaptation for use in this population.