Agoraphobia
In this condition factsheet:
Diagnosing Agoraphobia
As with most mental disorders, there are no blood tests or other "hard and fast" ways to diagnose agoraphobia. A doctor will ask many questions to find out whether you have the symptoms and signs of agoraphobia and to make sure that it isn't another mental health condition.
In order to be diagnosed with agoraphobia, a person must have fear or anxiety of at least 2 of the following situations:
- being in a crowd or standing in line
- using public transportation
- being in open spaces (e.g., marketplaces, parking lots, etc.)
- being in enclosed spaces such as a theatre
- being outside of the home alone
These symptoms must also be present for over 6 months, and must have a significant impact on quality of life.
Agoraphobia should be distinguished from social phobia (social anxiety disorder), where avoidance is limited to social situations due to fear of embarrassment – treatment interventions for social phobia are different from treatments for agoraphobia.
In addition, it's important to be sure that the anxiety or fear isn't being caused by a medication, drug abuse or addiction, or a medical condition. A doctor may refer someone to a psychiatrist or another therapist who specializes in recognizing and treating anxiety disorders, including agoraphobia.
Treating and Preventing Agoraphobia
Treatment of agoraphobia may include both psychotherapy and medication. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a type of psychotherapy, is an effective method to treat agoraphobia. CBT works to teach specific skills to help change your thoughts that are causing your condition. CBT may be delivered by a therapist individually or in a group setting, via self-help books or through the internet.
CBT may also involve exposure therapy. Exposure therapy works by encouraging patients to confront the situation they fear rather than avoid it. By deliberately staying in or imagining being in the circumstance that triggers a negative reaction, they gradually become used to it – this is called habituation – and their anxiety fades away as they realize nothing bad will happen to them.
Medicine, including antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, can be used to help manage the fear and anxiety from agoraphobia. They can be used alone or in combination with psychotherapy.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Agoraphobia
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