Agoraphobia: newer treatment approaches.

Agoraphobia is the commonest and most severe form of phobic disorder. Techniques presently available for its treatment fall into the broad categories of behavior therapy, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy. Of the behavioral approaches in current use flooding is probably most effective. Group exposure methods are valuable and have the advantage of conserving therapist time. Pharmacological agents of demonstrated value include monoamine oxidase inhibitors (phenelzine) and tricyclic antidepressants (imipramine). These drugs are capable of preventing the spontaneous panic attacks observed in agoraphobic patients. Psychotherapy, once the mainstay of treatment, has largely become an adjunctive procedure.