Agoraphobia: a follow-up study four years after treatment

Abstract

Seventy agoraphobic out-patients were followed up prospectively for four years after treatment; the improvements manifested during treatment were found to be maintained and partly augmented. At the end of follow-up, 75% of the patients had improved on the main phobia. No clear relationship was found between external control, social anxiety, depression and duration of the complaint at the beginning of treatment on the one hand and the results at follow-up on the other. The disorders remained phobic, no other neurotic symptoms having developed during the follow-up period.