[kokey]

I wouldn't be surprised about this when it comes to panic disorder. Just knowing you have some emergency fast acting anti anxiety medication nearby, just in case you need it, can reduce the number of panic attacks. There's probably all kinds of psychological feedback loops when people have anxiety about anxiety and then it escalates because they're anxious about it escalating. I am guessing that medication can help mitigate some components of that feedback loop for some people.

[guggalugalug]

See also, David Foster Wallace's character David Cusk in 'The Pale King'. A wonderful portrayal of how attending to ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts) catalyzes this feedback loop.