Agoraphobia Research

Agoraphobia is a situation where fear characterized with anxiety is believed to enter into certain locations or at vacuum. Phobic in our understanding can be said to be an order that is marked by persisting an irrational fear of any type of object or any situation that cannot pose or bring forth any danger that can be realistic in nature. Today this has taken another direction where it is seen as a disorder that is brought about by fear thus presently known to be a panic disorder. these disorders can be characterized by the ongoing attacks by which they are overwhelmingly causing anxiety that cannot be recognized as it takes on without consent of the culprit thus becoming an emergency action. Written (1998) Research that have been conducted, in its evidence it gives clear support that much exposure therapy can pose a threat which is the major component of agoraphobia. Ignorance by minority of the patients usually does not respond to this in time and may experience tough situations. Therefore, patients are expected to note that their symptoms which come hand in hand with this situation. The symptoms may change throughout the situation. This therefore brings the necessity to examine the different processes possibly through psychological and also self-assessment. (Carpenter, Wyckoff, Trull, 2016)

To overcome these challenges, the variability of the data may seem to be so high and may fail to analyze the problem of the research well. Therefore, in order to address the situation well there is a reason to come up with an approach that will correlate with the variable structural. By this clear response which will supplement to the findings of this disorder related symptoms. Many people do fails to manage their symptoms which bring a big change in what they live their normal life, how they plan their activities and how they will relate with others. Despite much effort they always find themselves in these problems. There are risks that come up with this situation of agoraphobia. But on the other hand their male counter parts, psychologically it can be determined that they are suffering and are they are said to be looked carefully. According to the report given by researchers, the data analyzed does suggest that there is likelihood of getting somebody shall once in his or her lifetime be diagnosis with this situation. The DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000) gives a report that the panic disorders rates are up to 3.6% of the population that research was conducted on to (Katon, Richardson, Lozano, & McCauley, 2004). The method which was used to get this information was qualitative research which was conducted in order to get the concrete and very reliable information regarding agoraphobia.

Information obtained was all about one man experience.. This work followed the general guidelines which are followed when conducting qualitative research. (Creswel, 2006) in undertakings the main actual work, a group of male adults who had already been diagnosed with this situation were interviewed. Some of the interview questions which were used required their own understanding which consisted questions on how they relate with other people in terms of relationships, how were they or they supported in copping up with their current situation or past experience and lastly the inner self questions which were relying on the diagnostic situations and time. How they came to know they have the symptoms of agoraphobia. The interview conducted was not oral, therefore use of open-ended questions method took effect on this study. With the help and supervision of a clinical officer and also psychologist who had much experience helped in structuring the questions. Permission was also granted to use a number of students who were undertaking their course on the qualitative course on research work. They help to edit the questions in order to remove the possible bias in the question which could trigger the panic disorder of the respondent, the male adult. Therefore the expected feedback from the students took place inside the lecture hall. The questions were clearly designed and were validly accepted. The questions that were put into considerations to be used by the respondent can be outlined as follows:

1. At which period of your life did you know about panic disorder?
2. Can you be able to explain about agoraphobia?
3. Were you ok with diagnosis?
4. In your relationship with others, what challenges you more?
5. Do you get emotional support from other people?
6. Are you ready to offer advice to someone diagnosed today?
7. How is your relationship with those suffering like you?
8. Is the therapy offered helpful to you?
9. Any lesson learnt about agoraphobia? From which source?
10. Do you have anything else to share on this platform about your experience with panic disorder?

In getting forth promising feedback, the participants were also drawn from mental complication hospitals with the help from the clinicians. Reliable internet sources were also used where the questions were posted online and any willing person could answer them. This helped in reaching out people from different locations. In order to ensure that all the participants were or at one time went through panic disorder, a subtest of the structured clinical interview (SCID) was effected through telephone screening (cacciola, Alterman,Rutherford,Mckay,&May,1999) In the research and question administration no one opted to withdraw from this study also going deeper was prohibited to prevent arousing the effects of agoraphobia. The results that came forth from the research work had mixed reactions. Internet usage brought the most reliable results thus was the best mode to conduct research. This is believed to be as a result of privacy as no one was likely willing to expose himself. Therefore it concluded that panic disorder persons avoided to be known .only 5 males met the phone screen after responding to the advertisement. Their age mean was recorded as 42.15 and had a range of 21 to 62.some incentives were offered in order to motivate the respondent and give clear information without bias.

The forms were answered well and time for evaluation was set. After conducting the study and analyzing the data that was collected, the information that was given back was recorded as the research finding on the matters regarding agoraphobia consideration. Out of this different themes were found and identified after analyzing the data. First, a theme of masculine came out: the respondents showed that they were born to be masculine and they were not supposed to rely on any other person. This is because the research was conducted to male only. And those being people who were too relied in the society and by their families; they opted to deal with their panic disorder alone. Some could not even seek psychologist for counseling sessions. They were totally in conflict with their symptoms as they could not reveal themselves. Secondly, there was a theme of trust: participants considered others as not trustworthy and could not ensure them of their privacy. They drew them as betrayers possibly the friends, their romantic lovers and also the acquaintances. In matters on relation to revealing their privacy and disclosing about their symptoms could pose a threat to them. Also what would the other people about them, how will they judge them was a vital point here.

Thirdly, physical symptoms as a theme came out as a result of the study: not only emotionally but also physical, the patient suffered on. Their symptoms kept on reminding all these men of their suffering from the panic disorders .mostly when their heart starts to panic. This also brought out that most men were suffering stomach ulcers due to frequent panicking and release of digestive juice in an empty stomach lining. Fourth, a theme of isolation was encountered with: the participants described the feeling of being isolated. Also they went through the physical isolation and they just required to move by all themselves. Fifth, the theme of support appeared where two types of support were identified when the interview was going on. This would help the patients to feel wanted back in the society regardless of their fateful situation of agoraphobia. One we have social support which should be rendered through to an agoraphobic person. This is the support from others. Others lacked it while others were over “supported. Other would find it difficult to live and socialize with people suffering in agoraphobia. Also there was a problem on ways of relating with others. There was also the medical support, which was the biggest pillar to lean on.

The participants' totally relied on therapist for their support also from the psychologists. Coping up skills were highly valued and appreciated for. Relaxing also with it technique was also accorded. Control as the sixth theme was also analyzed: control was the idea with major expectations. the participants extended this to different domains which included how to control oneself. With this in place the participants were expected to control themselves and accept the help from other stakeholders in order to cope up with agoraphobia. In conclusion, the study has brought forth much information about agoraphobia and different experiences that have been seen. The results will be of much helpful to other people in knowing and also accepting their condition. Also we have seen that male are the most affected with panic disorders.

Reference:

Fava, G. A., Grandi, S., & Canestrari, R. (1988). Prodromal symptoms in panic disorder with agoraphobia.The American journal of psychiatry,145(12), 1564. Capps, L., & Ochs, E. (1995).

Constructing panic. Harvard University Press. Brehony, K. A., Geller, E. S., Benson, B., & Solomon, L. J. (1980). Epidemiological data about agoraphobia: An American sample.

Unpublished manuscript, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Amering, M., Katschnig, H., Berger, P., Windhaber, J., Baischer, W., & Dantendorfer, K. (1997). Embarrassment about the first panic attack predicts agoraphobia in panic disorder patients.Behaviour Research and Therapy,35(6), 517-521.

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