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The role of provocative visual stimuli in agoraphobia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Fraser N. Watts  and
Arnold J. Wilkins
Fraser N. Watts*
Affiliation:
MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge
Arnold J. Wilkins
Affiliation:
MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge
*
1Address for correspondence: Drs F. N. Watts and Arnold Wilkins, MRC Applied Psychology Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 2EF.
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Synopsis

Three studies examine the role that provocative visual stimuli have in eliciting anxiety reactions in people with agoraphobia. Such stimuli elicit more anxiety in agoraphobic patients than control subjects. The effect of visual stimulation appears to be specific: (1) non-visual stimulation is without comparable effect; (2) both control and agoraphobic groups show similar effects of visual stimulation on another reaction such as headache. The anxiety effects of visual stimuli are correlated with the extent to which subjects experience depersonalization and somatic symptoms of agoraphobia, but not correlated with depression or the behavioural or cognitive aspects of agoraphobia. Alternative accounts of the possible role of visual stimulation in the anxiety reactions of agoraphobic patients are discussed.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , November 1989 , pp. 875 - 885
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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