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Agoraphobia

- Summary
- About agoraphobia
- Signs and symptoms
- Diagnosis methods
- Treatment and prevention
- Questions for your doctor

Reviewed By:
Steven A. King, M.D.
Tahir Tellioglu, M.D., APA, AAAP

Treatment and prevention of agoraphobia

Patients diagnosed with agoraphobia have several treatment options. In the majority of cases, a combination of psychotherapy and anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications is the most effective treatment.

Psychotherapy is likely to take the form of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT involves learning new skills to react differently to situations that typically trigger anxiety. The patient also learns to change specific actions and to use different techniques to stop harmful behavior. The patient may learn relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, and may be gradually exposed to situations that are frightening and in which the patient can test new coping skills. Patients also learn more about negative thought patterns that increase anxiety and ways to redirect such thinking.

The use of antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications should be closely monitored. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised that antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thinking in children and adolescents and all people being treated with them should be monitored closely for unusual changes in behavior. However, the benefits of such medications typically outweigh the risks.

In some cases, agoraphobia may not be prevented. However, if these treatment methods are used for panic attacks or panic disorder, it may prevent or reduce the severity of agoraphobia.

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Review Date: 08-01-2007
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