Mednet Logo

How do you approach requests from patients with social anxiety disorder or agoraphobia to work remotely as a medical accommodation?

How do you decide what is clinically appropriate to support versus what may reinforce avoidance?
Community PollStarted

What work accommodations have you recommended for patients with anxiety disorders?

33 physicians have voted

Join Mednetto vote and see how they answered.

3 Answers
Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Psychiatry · Oregon Health Sciences University
Answered on

I would approach this request with a lot of compassion and also humility. One of my first questions would be whether working remotely would actually be the most therapeutic approach for this patient. I would worry that remote work would act a bit like avoidance of an anxious trigger and could, over ...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Psychiatry · Private Practice
Answered on

I would collaborate with a therapist who is working on CBT (or do it myself) and focus on ERP. Obviously, meeting the patient where they are is important, but it is also important to help them engage in multidisciplinary treatment.

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Psychiatry · Jefferson Health
Answered on

Focus on treating the anxiety and not inadvertently avoiding the setting that might escalate symptoms. I agree with the use of CBT, multidisciplinary approaches, and DBT to provide real-time tools to manage symptoms.

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer