The best place for you to start your search for treatment of panic disorder is with your family doctor. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America can provide a list of professionals in your area who specialize in the treatment of panic disorder and agoraphobia and other anxiety disorders.

Therapy for panic disorder and agoraphobia often involves medication, some types of psychotherapy, or a combination of medication and psychotherapy. 70 to 90 percent of people with panic disorder can be helped with treatment.

Different types of health professionals may have the training and experience needed to treat panic disorder and agoraphobia, so you have a lot of options. Sometimes people with panic disorders are treated by two health care professionals — one who prescribes and monitors medication and another who provides psychotherapy.

Each professional will use the treatments with which he or she is most familiar and successful. It is very important to choose a professional who is trained and experienced in the treatment methods we talk about in the next sections. Remember, it is just as important to choose someone you feel comfortable with.

Many people begin looking for treatment by visiting their family doctor, or a local clinic or health maintenance organization. Other places to seek help include your local health department or community mental health clinic. If there is a college or university near you, you may wish to ask about participating in a panic disorder study. Many colleges and universities have ongoing treatment research programs in their psychology or psychiatry departments that may provide care that is not as expensive as other options.

To help you locate mental health professionals in your area, The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has available a Referral List, which gives the names and telephone numbers of organizations that can provide you with a referral (If you live in the United States call 1-800-64-PANIC).