Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by extreme fear of places or situations that cause panic, embarrassment, or helplessness. Those with agoraphobia can experience symptoms that greatly limit activities of daily living. Agoraphobia may occur with or without Panic Disorder. Treatment includes: Cognitive-behavioral and other psychotherapies and medication.
Symptoms include fear of the following:
DSM-V Criteria:
A marked fear or anxiety about two (or more) of the following five situations:
The agoraphobic situations almost always provoke fear or anxiety.
The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the agoraphobic situations and to the sociocultural context.
The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, typically lasting 6 months or more.
The fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in important areas of functioning.
Common Comorbidities:
Symptoms include fear of the following:
- Leaving home, especially alone
- Waiting in line
- Using public transportation
- Crowds
- Enclosed or open spaces
DSM-V Criteria:
A marked fear or anxiety about two (or more) of the following five situations:
- Using public transportation
- Being in open spaces
- Being in enclosed spaces (e.g., shops, theaters, cinemas)
- Standing in line or being in a crowd
- Being outside the home alone.
The agoraphobic situations almost always provoke fear or anxiety.
The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the agoraphobic situations and to the sociocultural context.
The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, typically lasting 6 months or more.
The fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in important areas of functioning.
Common Comorbidities:
- Panic disorder
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Social Phobia
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
- Substance Use Disorders
Screening & Assessment
- Severity Measure for Agoraphobia, Child Age 11 to 17 (APA Emerging Measures)
Position Papers & Practice Parameters
- AACAP's Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorders (2007)
Articles
- Clinical Consequences of the Revised DSM-V Definition of Agoraphobia in Treatment-Seeking Anxious Youth (Cornacchio, Chou, Sacks, Pincus & Comer, 2017)
Resources
- Agoraphobia in Children (Child Mind Institute)
Organizations
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
- Agoraphobia and Panic Disorder Association (APD)
Content curated by Linzy Silberg, BSN, RN.