ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Several validation studies have identified the use of certain psychodrugs, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and combined treatment as effective procedures for the treatment of agoraphobia. Recent findings suggest that agoraphobia can also be treated with virtual reality techniques (VRET) as an alternative exposure technique to virtual reality stimuli. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-seven patients with agoraphobia were distributed into two groups of psychoactive drugs (paroxetine and venlafaxine) and into two cognitive- behavioral procedures (with or without exposure to VRET). Seven virtual situations were used. RESULTS: Preliminary results show significant improvements in all the experimental groups. Regarding the psychodrugs (paroxetine and venlafaxine) both significantly improved the symptoms and in regards to the CBT, patients treated with VRET, especially the chronic patients, seem to obtain the best results. CONCLUSIONS: Agoraphobia combined treatments including paroxetine, venlafaxine and cognitive-behavioral therapy (with or without VRET) seem to have clear benefits for the patients. VRET seem to be a possible and effective treatment for agoraphobic patients, especially for those with chronic agoraphobia.
Subject(s)
Agoraphobia/therapy , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Cyclohexanols/therapeutic use , Paroxetine/therapeutic use , Therapy, Computer-Assisted , Adult , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Venlafaxine HydrochlorideABSTRACT
Introducción. Diversos estudios de validación han identificado el uso de ciertos psicofármacos, las terapias cognitivo-conductuales (TCC) y los tratamientos combinados como procedimientos eficaces para el tratamiento de la agorafobia. Investigaciones recientes sugieren que la agorafobia puede ser abordada también con procedimientos como terapia de exposición a realidad virtual (TERV) los escenarios fóbicos. Metodología. Veintisiete pacientes con agorafobia fueron distribuidos en dos grupos de psicofármacos (paroxetinay venlafaxina) y en dos procedimientos cognitivo-conductuales (con o sin exposición a TERV). Se utilizaron siete escenarios virtuales. Resultados. Se observan mejorías clínicamente significativas en todos los grupos experimentales. Respecto a los psicofármacos (paroxetina y venlafaxina), ambos mejoran significativamente la sintomatología, y en lo que a las TCC se refiere, los pacientes tratados con TERV parecen beneficiarse en mayor medida, especialmente los crónicos. Conclusiones. Los tratamientos combinados para la agorafobia, incluyendo paroxetina, venlafaxina y técnicas cognitivo-conductuales (con o sin TERV), parecen mostrar beneficios clínicos. Las TERV parecen ser un posible tratamiento eficaz para la agorafobia, especialmente para los pacientes con agorafobia crónica (AU)
Introduction. Several validation studies have identified the use of certain psycho drugs, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and combined treatment as effective procedures for the treatment of agoraphobia. Recent findings suggest that agoraphobia can also be treated with virtual reality techniques (VRET) as an alternative exposure technique to virtual reality stimuli. Methodology. Twenty-seven patients with agoraphobia were distributed into two groups of psychoactive drugs (paroxetine and venlafaxine) and into two cognitive-behavioral procedures (with or without exposure to VRET). Seven virtual situations were used. Results. Preliminary results show significant improvements in all the experimental groups. Regarding the psycho drugs (paroxetine and venlafaxine) both significantly improved the symptoms and in regards to the CBT, patients treated with VRET, especially the chronic patients, seem to obtain the best results. Conclusions. Agoraphobia combined treatments including paroxetine, venlafaxine and cognitive-behavioral therapy (with or without VRET) seem to have clear benefits for the patients. VRET seem to be a possible and effective treatment for agoraphobic patients, especially for those with chronic agoraphobia (AU)
