Agoraphobia

Question 1

Agoraphobia Criteria A

Answer 1

Marked fear or anxiety about 2 (or more) of the following 5 situations

1) Using public transportation (e.g., automobiles, buses, trains, ships, planes).
2) Being in open spaces (e.g., parking lots, marketplaces, bridges).
3) Being in enclosed places (e.g., shops, theaters, cinemas).
4) Standing in line or being in a crowd.
5) Being outside of the home alone.

Question 2

Agoraphobia Criteria B

Answer 2

The individual fears or avoids the situations because of thoughts that escape might be difficult or help might not be available in the event of developing panic-like symptoms or other incapacitation or embarrassing symptoms (e.g., fear of falling the elderly; fear of incontinence).

Question 3

Agoraphobia Criteria D

Answer 3

The agoraphobic situations are actively avoided, require the presence of a companion, or are endured with intense fear or anxiety.

Question 4

Agoraphobia Criteria C

Answer 4

The agoraphobic situations almost always provoke fear or anxiety.

Question 5

Agoraphobia Criteria E

Answer 5

The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the agoraphobic situations and to the sociocultural context.

Question 6

Agoraphobia Criteria F

Answer 6

The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, typically lasting for 6 months or more.

Question 7

Agoraphobia Criteria G

Answer 7

The fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Question 8

Agoraphobia Criteria H

Answer 8

If another medical condition (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, Parkinson’s disease) is present, the fear, anxiety, or avoidance is clearly excessive.

Question 9

Agoraphobia Criteria I

Answer 9

The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is not better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder–for example, the symptoms are not confined to specific phobia, situational type; do not involve only social situations (as in social anxiety disorder), and are not related exclusively to obsessions (as in obsessive-compulsive disorder), perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance (as in body dysmorphic disorder), reminders of traumatic events (as in posttraumatic stress disorder), or fear of separation (as in separation anxiety disorder).

Note Agoraphobia is diagnosed irrespective of the presence of panic disorder. If an individual’s presentation meets criteria for panic disorder and agoraphobia, both diagnoses should be assigned.