PANIC DISORDER & AGORAPHOBIA TREATMENT

Question 1

MEDICAL TREATMENT

Answer 1

TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANTS
BENZODIAZEPINES
SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

Question 2

Psychoeducation

Answer 2

• Our sensations are not harmful or dangerous, just nasty
• Focus on the now and stop making negative predictions for the future
• Wait for the fear to pass away, don’t fight it, just accept it
• Think of the progress you made so far, despite the difficulties
• When you start to feel better, then start planning your next step

Question 3

Self- monitoring

Answer 3

• Complete the panic attack record : after each panic attack (write down symptoms, behaviors, thoughts)
• Complete the daily mood record: at the end of each day (record overall anxiety, depression etc.)

Question 4

Interoceptive exposure

Answer 4

Goal: habituation and management of feared feelings
Steps: explain the principles and objectives of the technique, elaborate the hierarchy, report the sensations, integrate interoceptive with in vivo exposure

Question 5

Controlled breathing

Answer 5

Used to reduce anxiety, learning that the sensations are due to hyperventilation and are not harmful

Question 6

In vivo- exposure

Answer 6

The patient is exposed in real life and systematic way to the situations she fears and avoids