Efficacious psychological treatments for agoraphobia

Efficacious psychological treatments for agoraphobia. In vivo exposure and cognitive-behavioral therapy have demonstrated their efficacy for agoraphobic anxiety and avoidance; however, the effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy might be smaller if time given to in vivo exposure is reduced. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is also a probably efficacious treatment for other aspects of agoraphobia (frequency of panic, worry about panic, interference) and associated problems (general anxiety, depressed mood). Furthermore, cognitive-behavioral therapy is effective and efficient, and, in comparison with in vivo exposure, is associated with fewer dropouts of treatment and fewer relapses in panic attacks. Nonetheless, their short-term and mid-term effects in frequency of panic attacks, worry about panic, interference, general anxiety and depressed mood have not been established in a consistent way in comparison with placebo or other treatments; moreover, measures as fear of fear or anxiety sensitivity have not been considered in that respect. Finally, results about predictors of treatment outcome have been generally inconsistent.