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Drugs and Psychological Treatments for Agoraphobia/Panic and Obsessive–Compulsive Disorders: A Review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Isaac Marks  and
Geraldine O'Sullivan
Geraldine O'Sullivan
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF
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Abstract

In the short term, both antidepressants and exposure therapy usually improve agoraphobia/panic (AP) and obsessive–compulsive (OC) disorders and are accepted by most patients; psychological methods omitting exposure are not consistently helpful. Antidepressants have a broad-spectrum rather than specific anti-agoraphobia/panic or anti-obsessive–compulsive action. For long-term efficacy, there is good evidence for the value of exposure, but none for drugs. Because of relapse on ceasing drugs, and their side-effects, medication is less useful as the first line of treatment for chronic agoraphobia/panic or obsessive-compulsive disorder than is the lastingly helpful approach of exposure. Antidepressants are worth trying when patients refuse or fail with exposure therapy, or are dysphoric.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 153 , Issue 5 , November 1988 , pp. 650 - 658
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

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