Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures for Agoraphobia - What are the diagnostic tests and procedures for Agoraphobia? Learn more about the diagnostic tests and procedures for Agoraphobia.
Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures for Agoraphobia
New York (USA), November 24, 2014
What are the diagnostic tests and procedures for Agoraphobia?
What diagnostic tests may you have to undergo to diagnose an Agoraphobia?
What are the necessary laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures usually needed to diagnose an Agoraphobia?
What are the laboratory tests and medical procedures doctors use to diagnose an Agoraphobia?
What are the different types of routine medical tests and procedures used in the diagnosis of Agoraphobia?
Learn more about the diagnostic tests and procedures for Agoraphobia.
Agoraphobia – Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
In most cases, agoraphobia is diagnosed when you approach your medical practitioner for some other physical or emotional ailment. There is no single specific test to diagnose agoraphobia.
Once your doctor diagnoses few symptoms of agoraphobia, you undergo detailed medical examination. Your doctor conducts a thorough physical test, as symptoms of many panic attacks and agoraphobia are almost similar. Doctor also conducts few tests to determine if you suffer from any social phobia or any other phobia as symptoms often overlap and are common.
To diagnose your ailment correctly, doctor asks you various questions to be sure that your anxiety is due to embarrassing situations only and not as a result of any post-traumatic disorder or happening. If your anxiety is due to some other reason, doctor treats that condition first. Thereafter, doctor again conducts tests to detect whether you still suffer from similar symptoms. Just presence of anxiety symptoms cannot categorize you to be suffering from agoraphobia. A clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, or similar mental health professionals examine you thoroughly.
Diagnostic Criteria for Agoraphobia
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association details specific criteria. You should meet such criteria to be diagnosed with agoraphobia. Such criteria include:
– Anxiety of being in situations or places that pose difficulty in coming out of them if you develop panic-like symptoms
– Avoiding such places or situations that distress you or cause extreme anxiety
– You endure such places with immense anxiety.
– You venture to such places only in the company of a friend or relative.
– There is no other underlying condition, which could be the cause behind such anxiety.
Preparing for Your Appointment
Before visiting your doctor, analyze your situation yourself. If you are scared of venturing out for your doctor’s appointment, check if your doctor can visit you at home. Often medical professionals treating mental ailments and phobias examine patients at home.
Prepare a list of all symptoms. List out any stress or traumas you experienced recently. List your regular medications. Check if any family member suffers or has had a history of mental ailments. Your doctor would question you on such topics.
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