A pilot study of sensation-focused intensive treatment for panic disorder with moderate to severe agoraphobia: preliminary outcome and benchmarking data.

Bitran et al. (2008) tested an 8-day panic boot camp for adults who could not leave home without terror. The team mixed two tools: interoceptive exposure (spinning in chairs, breathing through thin straws) and real-world trips (riding elevators, crossing bridges).

They tracked panic attacks and avoidance before, after, and three months later. No control group—just the same people measured twice.

Panic dropped and stayed down. Clients left the house more often and used less rescue medication. Gains held at follow-up.

Last et al. (1984) ran a single-case in-vivo program 24 years earlier. Phobic behavior fell, but scary thoughts actually rose at first and the client relapsed a year later. Stella’s newer package adds interoceptive work and daily coaching—no relapse is reported.

Yamada et al. (2017) fixed shallow breathing in panic patients with simple diaphragm drills. Stella’s team goes further: they trigger the same scary body signs on purpose, then teach clients to stay until the wave passes.

Tortella-Feliu et al. (2011) showed computer exposure works for fear of flying. Stella moves the exposure off the screen and into the actual streets and shops, matching the real panic cues these clients avoid.

If you serve adults stuck at home, you now have a blueprint that compresses months of therapy into one intensive week. Pair in-office body exposures with coached community outings. Track panic frequency and distance walked daily. Clients finish the week with lived proof they can ride an elevator, shop alone, and survive the sensations.