Phobias (cont.)
How are phobias assessed?
Many providers of health care may help diagnose
phobias, including licensed mental-health therapists, family physicians, or other
primary-care medical providers, specialists whom you see for a medical
condition, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. If one of these
professionals suspects that you may be suffering from a phobia, you will likely
be asked a number of questions to understand all the symptoms you may be
experiencing and you may need to submit to a medical interview and physical
examination. A phobia may be associated with a number of other mental-health
conditions, especially other anxiety disorders. As anxiety disorders in general
may be associated with a number of medical conditions or can be a side effect of
various medications, routine laboratory tests are often performed during the
initial evaluation to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms.
How are phobias treated?
Helping those who suffer from phobias by supportively and gradually exposing
them to circumstances that are increasingly close to the one they are phobic
about (desensitization) is one way phobias are treated.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to significantly decrease
phobic symptoms by helping the phobia sufferer change his or her way of
thinking. CBT uses three techniques to accomplish this goal:
- Didactic
component: This phase helps to set up positive expectations for therapy and
promote the phobia sufferer's cooperation.
- Cognitive component: It helps to
identify the thoughts and assumptions that influence the person's behavior,
particularly those that may predispose him or her to being phobic.
- Behavioral
component: This employs behavior-modifying techniques to teach the individual with a
phobia more effective strategies for dealing with problems.
Selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications are often used to treat phobias,
particularly when desensitization and CBT are inadequately effective. These
medications affect levels of serotonin in the brain. Examples of these
medications include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine
(Paxil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (lexapro).
The possible side effects of these medications can vary greatly from person to
person and depend on which medication is being used. Common side effects of this
group of medications include dry mouth, sexual dysfunction, nausea, tremors,
trouble sleeping, blurred vision, constipation or soft stools, and dizziness. In
very rare cases, some people have been thought to become more acutely more
anxious or depressed once on the medication, even trying to or completing
suicide or homicide. Children and teens are thought to be particularly
vulnerable to this rare possibility.
Phobias are also
sometimes treated using beta-blocker medications, which block the effects that
adrenaline has on the body. An example of a beta blocker is propranolol. These
disorders are less commonly treated with drugs in a medication class known as
benzodiazepines. This class of medications causes relaxation but is used much
less often these days to treat anxiety due to the possibility of addiction and
the risk of overdose, especially if taken when alcohol is also being consumed.
Examples of medications from that group include diazepam (Valium), alprazolam
(Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and clonazepam (Klonopin).
Next: How can people cope with phobias? »
- citalopram, Celexa - Information about citalopram (Celexa) an antidepressant drug prescribed for depression, anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD, and premenstrual dysphoric syndrome.
- Anxiety - Read about anxiety (generalized anxiety disorder, GAD) causes, physical symptoms and signs, medications and treatment. Learn about symptoms (worry, fear) and other types of anxiety disorders.
- Beta Blockers - Learn more about Beta Blockers, a drug that treats angina and other heart rhythm disorders, migraines, high blood pressure, panic attacks, and tremors. Generic and brand names are included in the article.
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