Treatment of Agoraphobia in a Pregnant Woman: A Combination of Exposure and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

A combination of exposure therapy techniques and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies were used to treat a 23-year-old pregnant female who was housebound due to symptoms of agoraphobia. The client in this case study had not left her family home in 10 months when she sought treatment for her anxiety. The client was successfully treated over a year, such that she was able to receive prenatal care at an obstetrician's office and to deliver her infant at a hospital. Neither the client nor her fetus suffered any complications due to treatment. Post-treatment and 1-year follow-up data indicated that the client continued to show significant functional improvements following the birth of her child. Recommendations for integrating ACT strategies into exposure therapy for severe agoraphobia and for anxious pregnant women are provided.