Treatments for Social phobia
Treatments for Social phobia
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources
for Social phobia
includes the following list.
Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Social phobia: Is the Diagnosis Correct?
The first step in getting correct treatment is
to get a correct diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis list for Social phobia may include:
Social phobia: Research Doctors & Specialists
Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.
Drugs and Medications used to treat Social phobia:
Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Social phobia include:
Unlabeled Drugs and Medications to treat Social phobia:
Unlabelled alternative drug treatments for Social phobia include:
- Fluvoxamine
- Apo-Fluvoxamine
- Gen-Fluvoxamine
- Luvox
- Novo-Fluvoxamine
- PMS-Fluvoxamine
- Riva-Fluvoxamine
- Gabapentin
- Neurontin
- Apo-Gabapentin
- Novo-Gabapentin
- Nu-Gabapentin
- PMS-Gabapentin
Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Social phobia
Research quality ratings and patient incidents/safety measures
for hospitals and medical facilities in specialties related to Social phobia:
Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »
Choosing the Best Treatment Hospital:
More general information, not necessarily in relation to Social phobia,
on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:
Discussion of treatments for Social phobia:
Phobia: NWHIC (Excerpt)
About 80 percent of people who suffer from social phobia find relief
from their symptoms when treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy or
medications or a combination of the two. Therapy may involve learning to
view social events differently; being exposed to a seemingly threatening
social situation in such a way that it becomes easier to face; and
learning anxiety-reducing techniques, social skills, and relaxation
techniques.
The medications that have proven effective include antidepressants
called MAO inhibitors. People with a specific form of social phobia called
performance phobia have been helped by drugs called beta-blockers. For
example, musicians or others with this anxiety may be prescribed a
beta-blocker for use on the day of a performance.
(Source: excerpt from Phobia: NWHIC)
Facts about Social Phobia: NIMH (Excerpt)
Research
supported by NIMH and by industry has shown that there are two effective
forms of treatment available for social phobia: certain medications and a
specific form of short-term psychotherapy called cognitive-behavioral
therapy. Medications include antidepressants such as selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), as
well as drugs known as high-potency benzodiazepenes. Some people with a
form of social phobia called performance phobia have been helped by
beta-blockers, which are more commonly used to control high blood
pressure.
Cognitive-behavior therapy is also very useful in treating social
phobia. The central component of this treatment is exposure therapy, which
involves helping patients gradually become more comfortable with
situations that frighten them. The exposure process often involves three
stages. The first involves introducing people to the feared situation. The
second level is to increase the risk for disapproval in that situation so
people build confidence that they can handle rejection or criticism. The
third stage involves teaching people techniques to cope with disapproval.
In this stage, people imagine their worst fear and are encouraged to
develop constructive responses to their fear and perceived disapproval.
Cognitive-behavior therapy for social phobia also includes anxiety
management training - for example, teaching people techniques such as deep
breathing to control their levels of anxiety. Another important aspect of
treatment is called cognitive restructuring, which involves helping
individuals identify their misjudgments and develop more realistic
expectations of the likelihood of danger in social situations.
Supportive therapy such as group therapy, or couples or family therapy
to educate significant others about the disorder, is also helpful.
Sometimes people with social phobia also benefit from social skills
training.
(Source: excerpt from Facts about Social Phobia: NIMH)
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Book Excerpts: Treatment of Social phobia
Treatments of Social phobia: Online Medical Books
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Anxiety:
Treatment
(In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)
-
Patient education regarding available treatment and reassurance often has a calming effect
-
Treatment usually combines pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, relaxation training, and biofeedback
-
General anxiety disorder: Cognitive therapy has been proven to be beneficial; benzodiazepines, buspirone, and antidepressants (tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs) are all effective; however, concern over dependence sometimes limits the use of benzodiazepines
-
Panic disorder: SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and cognitive-behavioral therapy are equivalently effective
-
Obsessive-compulsive disorder: High-dose SSRIs and cognitive-behavioral therapy are effective
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: In a Page: Signs and Symptoms, 2004
Delusional disorders:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Effective treatment of delusional disorders, consisting of a combination of drug therapy and psychotherapy, must correct the behavior and mood disturbances that result from the patient’s mistaken beliefs. Treatment may also include mobilizing a support system for the isolated elderly patient.
Drug treatment with antipsychotic agents is similar to that used in schizophrenic disorders. Antipsychotics appear to work by blocking postsynaptic dopamine receptors. These drugs reduce the incidence of psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, and relieve anxiety and agitation. Other psychiatric drugs, such as antidepressants and anxiolytics, may be prescribed to control associated symptoms.
A patient’s history of medication response is the best guide when selecting treatment. The lowest dose should be started initially and increased slowly based on the patient’s response. If the symptoms don’t improve during a 6-week trial, other classes of antipsychotics may be tried. Haloperidol, fluphenazine decanoate, and fluphenazine enanthate are depot formulations that are implanted I.M. to release the drug gradually over a 30-day period, improving compliance. Usually, however, this type of treatment isn’t necessary. Pimozide may be particularly effective in delusional disorders.
Clozapine, which differs chemically from other antipsychotic drugs, may be prescribed for severely ill patients who fail to respond to standard treatment. This agent effectively controls a wider range of psychotic symptoms without the usual adverse effects.
However, clozapine can cause drowsiness, sedation, excessive salivation, tachycardia, dizziness, and seizures. Agranulocytosis, a potentially fatal blood disorder characterized by a low white blood cell count and pronounced neutropenia, may also occur. Routine blood monitoring is essential to detect the estimated 1% to 2% of all patients taking clozapine who develop agranulocytosis. If caught in the early stages, this disorder is reversible.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Personality disorders:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Personality disorders are difficult to treat. Successful therapy requires a trusting relationship in which the therapist can use a direct approach. The type of therapy chosen depends on the patient’s symptoms. Family and group therapies are usually effective. Cognitive and self-help groups have also been beneficial.
Drug therapy is effective in some types of personality disorders; for example, pimozide has been successfully used to reduce paranoia ideation in some patients with paranoid personality disorder. Antipsychotic drugs (olanzapine or risperidone) may be used to treat severe agitation or delusional thinking. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine, may be used to treat irritability, anger, and obsessional thinking. Antianxiety drugs may be used to treat severe anxiety that interferes with normal thinking.
Hospital inpatient milieu therapy can be effective in crisis situations and possibly for long-term treatment of some disorders. Inpatient treatment is controversial, however, because most patients with personality disorders don’t comply with extended therapeutic regimens; for such patients, outpatient therapy may be more helpful.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Generalized anxiety disorder:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
A combination of drug therapy and psychotherapy may help a patient with generalized anxiety disorder. Benzodiazepines may relieve mild anxiety and improve the patient’s ability to cope.
ELDER TIP A benzodiazepine with a long half-life tends to accumulate in an older patient’s system and may cause oversedation. Benzodiazepines are sometimes given along with opioids to add to the analgesic effect or as a preanesthetic. Remember, if the elderly psychiatric patient is scheduled for surgery, he may take longer to recover from anesthesia if these combinations are used.
Tricyclic antidepressants or higher doses of short-acting benzodiazepines may relieve severe anxiety and panic attacks. Buspirone, an antianxiety drug, causes the patient less sedation and poses less risk of physical and psychological dependence than the benzodiazepines.
Psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder has two goals: helping the patient identify and deal with the cause of the anxiety and eliminating environmental factors that precipitate an anxious reaction. In addition, the patient can learn relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, focused relaxation, and visualization.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Phobias:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
The effectiveness of treatment depends on the severity of the patient’s phobia. Because phobic behavior may never be completely cured, the goal of treatment is to help the patient function effectively.
Antianxiety medications, tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may help relieve symptoms in patients with agoraphobia or social phobias.
Systematic desensitization, a type of behavioral therapy, may be more effective than drugs, especially if it includes encouragement, instruction, and suggestion.
In some cities, phobia clinics and group therapy are available. People who have recovered from phobias can usually help other phobic patients.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Delusional disorders:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Effective treatment of delusional disorders, consisting of a combination of drug therapy and psychotherapy, must correct the behavior and mood disturbances that result from the patient’s mistaken belief system. Treatment may also include mobilizing a support system for the isolated elderly patient.
Antipsychotic drug therapy
Drug treatment with antipsychotic agents is similar to that used in schizophrenic disorders. Antipsychotics appear to work by blocking postsynaptic dopamine receptors. These drugs reduce the incidence of psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, and relieve anxiety and agitation.
Other psychiatric drugs, such as antidepressants and anxiolytics, may be prescribed to control associated symptoms.
High-potency antipsychotics include fluphenazine, haloperidol, thiothixene, and trifluoperazine. Loxapine, molindone, and perphenazine are intermediate in potency, and chlorpromazine and thioridazine are low-potency agents.
Haloperidol, fluphenazine , and fluphenazine are depot formulations that are implanted I.M. They release the drug gradually over a 30-day period, improving compliance.
Clozapine, which differs chemically from other antipsychotic drugs, may be prescribed for severely ill patients who fail to respond to standard treatment. This agent effectively controls a wider range of psychotic symptoms without the usual adverse effects.
However, clozapine can cause drowsiness, sedation, excessive salivation, tachycardia, dizziness, and seizures as well as agranulocytosis, a potentially fatal blood disorder characterized by a low white blood cell count and pronounced neutropenia.
Routine blood monitoring is essential to detect the estimated 1%to 2% of all patients taking clozapine who develop agranulocytosis. If caught in the early stages, this disorder is reversible.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Personality disorders:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Personality disorders are difficult to treat. Successful therapy requires a trusting relationship in which the therapist can use a direct approach. The type of therapy chosen depends on the patient’s symptoms.
Drug therapy is ineffective but may be used to relieve acute anxiety and depression. Family and group therapy usually are effective.
Hospital inpatient milieu therapy can be effective in crisis situations and possibly for long-term treatment for borderline personality disorders. Inpatient treatment is controversial, however, because most patients with personality disorders don’t comply with extended therapeutic regimens; for such patients, outpatient therapy may be more useful.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Anxiety disorder, generalized:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
A combination of drug therapy and psychotherapy may help a patient with generalized anxiety disorder. Benzodiazepine anxiolytics relieve mild anxiety and improve the patient’s ability to cope. They should be used cautiously, however, because they can be addictive. Buspirone, a nonbenzodiazepine anxiolytic, is an alternative to the benzodiazepines because it causes less sedation and poses less risk of physical and psychological dependence.
Psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder has two goals: helping the patient identify and deal with the underlying emotional and psychological issues and eliminating environmental factors that precipitate an anxious reaction. In addition, the patient can learn relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, focused relaxation, and visualization.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Phobias:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
The effectiveness of treatment depends on the severity of the patient’s phobia. Because phobic behavior may never be completely cured, the goal of treatment is to help the patient function effectively.
Anxiolytics and antidepressants may help relieve symptoms in patients with agoraphobia.
Systematic desensitization, a behavioral therapy, may be more effective than drugs, especially if it includes encouragement, instruction, and suggestion.
In some cities, phobia clinics and group therapy are available. People who have recovered from phobias can often help other phobic patients.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Anxiety:
Patient counseling
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
Teach the patient relaxation techniques and practice them with him. Encourage the patient to verbalize his anxiety and listen to him attentively. Help the patient identify and explore coping mechanisms that he used in the past. Work with the patient to identify stressors and guide him in effective coping skills.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007
Anxiety:
Nursing considerations
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
▪ Provide supportive care, as indicated by the patient's signs and symptoms.
▪ Provide a calm, quiet atmosphere.
▪ Administer medications, as ordered, to reduce anxiety.
▪ Treat the underlying cause of the patient's anxiety, if known.
▪ Encourage the patient to express his feelings and concerns.
Patient teaching
▪ Teach the patient anxiety-reducing measures, such as distraction, relaxation techniques, or biofeedback.
▪ Teach the patient coping mechanisms to help control his anxiety.
▪ Explain the underlying causes of his anxiety, if known.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007
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