Agoraphobia
Anxiety disorder / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Agoraphobia[1] is a mental and behavioral disorder,[5] specifically an anxiety disorder characterized by symptoms of anxiety in situations where the person perceives their environment to be unsafe with no easy way to escape.[1] These situations can include public transit, shopping centers, crowds and queues, or simply being outside their home on their own.[1] Being in these situations may result in a panic attack.[2] Those affected will go to great lengths to avoid these situations.[1] In severe cases, people may become completely unable to leave their homes.[2]
Agoraphobia | |
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An ancient agora in Delos, Greece—one of the public spaces after which the condition is named. | |
Pronunciation | |
Specialty | Psychiatry, clinical psychology |
Symptoms | Anxiety in situations perceived to be unsafe, panic attacks[1][2] |
Complications | Depression, substance use disorder[1] |
Duration | > 6 months[1] |
Causes | Genetic and environmental factors[1] |
Risk factors | Family history, stressful event[1] |
Differential diagnosis | Separation anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder[1] |
Treatment | Cognitive behavioral therapy[3] |
Prognosis | Resolution in half with treatment[4] |
Frequency | 1.9% of adults[1] |
Agoraphobia is believed to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.[1] The condition often runs in families, and stressful or traumatic events such as the death of a parent or being attacked may be a trigger.[1] In the DSM-5, agoraphobia is classified as a phobia along with specific phobias and social phobia.[1][3] Other conditions that can produce similar symptoms include separation anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and major depressive disorder.[1] The diagnosis of agoraphobia has been shown to be comorbid with depression, substance abuse, and suicide ideation.[6][7]
Without treatment, it is uncommon for agoraphobia to resolve.[1] Treatment is typically with a type of counselling called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).[3][8] CBT results in resolution for about half of people.[4] In some instances, those with a diagnosis of agoraphobia have reported taking benzodiazepines and antipsychotics.[6] Agoraphobia affects about 1.7% of adults.[1] Women are affected about twice as often as men.[1] The condition is rare in children, often begins in adolescence or early adulthood, and becomes less common in old age.[1]