Psychotherapeutic treatment options for phobic anxiety disorders: a brief overview

Authors

  • T. V. Danylova Institute of Social and Political Psychology image/svg+xml
  • G. V. Salata Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts image/svg+xml
  • Yu. O. Semenov National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine image/svg+xml

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31548/hspedagog2021.03.026

Abstract

Nowadays, the problem of diagnosis, interpretation and selection of treatment options for phobic anxiety disorders is becoming more acute taking into account the multidimensionality of a human being. The data obtained on psychopharmacotherapy show its moderate effectiveness for phobic anxiety disorders. The combination of psychopharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, which often plays a leading role in the treatment process, works much better. The paper aims at analyzing psychotherapeutic treatment options for phobic anxiety disorders, such as exposure therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy and self-help groups, hypnotherapy, mindfulness, meditation, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation method. There are pros and cons for both psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment options. Therefore, the choice of the most effective treatment options should be determined after an in-depth examination of a patient and carried out by a multidisciplinary team of specialists.

References

Cuijpers P., Gentili C., Banos R.M., Garcia-Campayo J., Botella C., Cristea I.A. (2016). Relative effects of cognitive and behavioral therapies on generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and panic disorder: A meta-analysis. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 43, 79-89. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.09.003.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.09.003

Danylova, T. (2014). The World without Fear and Illusions: Meditation as a Means of Overcoming Binary oppositions of Culture. International Researchers IR, 3, 2. Retrieved from http://www.iresearcher.org/77-82 %20IR %20Template %20- %20Copy %20(8).pdf.

Danylova, T. (2019). Moving Beyond The "Nature - Nurture" Dichotomy: A Holistic Approach to Mental Health. Research Revolution. International Journal of Social Science & Management, VII (6-7), 1-5.

Danylova. T. (2020). On Covid-19, Mental Health, and Meditation. Scientific Herald of National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. Series: Pedagogics, Psychology, Philosophy, 3, 11(4), 75-81.

https://doi.org/10.31548/hspedagog2020.04.075

Furukawa T. A., Watanabe N., Churchill R. (2007). Combined psychotherapy plus antidepressants for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1, CD004364. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004364.pub2.

https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004364.pub2

Garcia, R. (2017). Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias. Learning Memory, 24(9), 462-471.

https://doi.org/10.1101/lm.044115.116

ICD-11. International Classification of Diseases. (2020). 11th Revision. The Global Standard for Diagnostic Health Information. World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://icd.who.int/en.

Jewell, T. (2018). What Is Diaphragmatic Breathing? Reviewed by D.R. Wilson. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/diaphragmatic-breathing.

Joy, R. (2020). What Types of Therapy Can Help Treat a Phobia? Medically reviewed by White M.A. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/therapy-for-phobias.

Kogan, C.S., Stain D.J, Maj M., First M.B., Emmelkamp P.M.G., Reed, G.M. (2016). The classification of Anxiety and Fear-Related Disorders in the ICD-11. Depression and Anxiety, 33(12), 1141-1154. doi: 10.1002/da.22530.

https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22530

Milosevic, I., McCabe, R.E. (Eds.). (2015). Phobias: The Psychology of Irrational Fear. Greenwood, 444 p.

Nunez, K. (2020). The Benefits of Progressive Muscle Relaxation and How to Do It. Reviewed by G. Minnis. Healthline. 2020. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/progressive-muscle-relaxation

Pelissolo, A. (2016). Hypnosis for anxiety and phobic disorders: A review of clinical studies. La Presse Medicale, 45, 284-290. doi: 10.1016/j.lpm.2015.12.002.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lpm.2015.12.002

Phobias. Hypnotherapy Directory. Retrieved from https://www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk/articles/phobias.html#understandingphobias.

Saul, H. (2001). Phobias: Fighting the Fear. Arcade Pub, 368 p.

Published

2021-11-25

Issue

Section

Article