Guide To Diagnosing And Treating Agoraphobia

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is an important part of treatment for agoraphobia. Though agoraphobia is often related to a chemical imbalance in the brain, talk therapy can help patients determine how to face and deal with their fears. Cognitive behavioral therapy is often used to help patients address and modify their irrational fear responses to stimuli. When used for agoraphobia, cognitive behavioral therapy tends to be a short-term treatment method similar to taking a class. There are several different skills and facts patients will learn throughout the process. The patient and their therapist may identify the factors most likely to trigger panic symptoms or panic attacks, and they can figure out what makes the symptoms worse. Patients will learn coping methods for identifying and tolerating their anxiety symptoms, along with ways to challenge their fears that bad things will happen. Part of therapy is also learning to tolerate situations until the anxiety surrounding them lessens, since consistent exposure to fear stimuli helps deal with the fear. Exposure therapy may be a part of a patient's cognitive behavioral therapy.

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Anti-Anxiety Medication

One treatment option for agoraphobia patients is to use anti-anxiety medication to help deal with the symptoms, though the type of medication will vary depending on the patient. Some might benefit from a low dose of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) with anti-anxiety benefits on a long-term basis. On a short-term basis, medication from a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines may be prescribed. Benzodiazepines have a sedating effect on the brain that keeps it from generating the panic signals individuals are used to. However, benzodiazepines should also only be prescribed on a short-term basis because they have a habit-forming effect on the brain. Rather than being used as a maintenance medication, these medications might be prescribed short term for patients in acute states of anxiety. Combining benzodiazepines with psychotherapy may help a patient feel more comfortable with exposure therapy and facing their fears. Ultimately, though, it's important to learn to cope with the anxious thoughts and feelings without using sedative medication. Individuals concerned about the risk of dependence should talk to their doctors before they start taking benzodiazepines.

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