The behavioral approach to panic disorder distinguishes between
agoraphobia and nonsituational panic and emphasizes the handicap to the
patient caused by avoidance of agoraphobic situations. Agoraphobia is a
more viable label than panic disorder. Behavioral treatment consists of
delineating the patient's agoraphobic avoidance and panic profile and
developing a self-exposure program to produce habituation. Systematic
exposure to agoraphobic situations is usually of durable efficacy, and the
treatment requires little time from clinicians. Antidepressant drugs, which
do not interfere with exposure, are a useful addition when dysphoria is
present, but they can have troublesome side effects.
Abstract Teaser