Agoraphobics are anxious about being in places or situations from
which escape might be difficult or acutely embarrassing.
They are
afraid of being in places where help may not be available in the event
of having a sudden, unexpected or situationally predisposed Panic
Attack or panic-like symptoms.
According to the diagnostic criteria in the DSM-IV-TR agoraphobics fear
characteristic clusters of situations that include being outside the
home alone; being in a crowd or standing in line; being on a bridge;
and traveling in a bus, train or automobile.
The manual continues: "The situations are avoided or else endured with a marked distress or anxiety..."
Where the agoraphobic with panic disorder experiences panic attacks
before developing agoraphobia, the agoraphobic without history of panic
disorder is afraid of the same places but has NO history of panic
attacks or panic disorder. In other words the individual does not, and
has never, met the criteria for Panic Disorder.
Other DSM-IV-TR criteria for the diagnosis of Agoraphobia without
history of Panic Disorder include the proviso that the disturbance is
not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g. a drug
of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition. If there is a
general medical condition present, the fear that is characteristic of
the condition of agoraphobia must be clearly in excess of that usually
associated with the condition.
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