What Are the Symptoms of Agoraphobia?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptoms and SignsDiagnosisFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Definition

Symptoms and Signs

Diagnosis

Frequently Asked Questions

Agoraphobiatypically presents as overwhelming anxiety that is irrational and inappropriate for the circumstances—usually when the person attempts to leave home or even thinks of doing so. This article discusses the specific symptoms and signs of agoraphobia that clinicians use to diagnose the disorder.

What Is Agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia—derived from the Latin “fear of the marketplace”—is a type of anxiety disorder. It arises from an acute, persistent fear of being somewhere that’s difficult or impossible to escape from or of experiencing an embarrassing event in a public place. Many people with agoraphobia fear simply leaving home. About 1.3% of U.S. adults experience agoraphobia at some point.

According toThe American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), agoraphobia is frequently diagnosed along with panic and other anxiety disorders.

What Are Anxiety Disorders?

Agoraphobia Symptoms and Signs

Agoraphobia can look and feel like other forms of anxiety and panic attacks.DSM-Voutlines the specific symptoms and signs that differentiate it from these other conditions.

Symptoms and signsare not the same. Signs are objective; they’re observable and measurable. Symptoms are subjective; only the affected person can sense them.

Symptoms

Those who have agoraphobia may fear experiencing something embarrassing in public, such as a panic attack itself, a fall, or incontinence, and they may avoidcrowdedor public places. Other symptoms include:

Signs

If you’re with a person who has agoraphobia, you might notice these signs:

What Are the Types of Panic Attacks?

Agoraphobia is often misunderstood as being primarily a problem in which people are afraid toleave their houses, but it can extend to other situations. According toDSM-V, people with agoraphobia have a “marked fear” about two or more of the following scenarios:

The diagnostic criteria for agoraphobia stipulate that the person’s anxious feelings must be disproportionate to or inappropriate for the situation—anirrational fear. In addition, the symptoms must persist at least six months.

Avoidant behavioris another part of the diagnostic picture. A person with avoidant behavior steers clear of the object or situation they fear as well as anything they associate with that fear. Living with restrictions on what they do, where they go, and who they interact with are common for someone experiencing agoraphobiaand severely impedes their ability to live a productive, active life.

Though symptoms and signs of agoraphobia andpanic disorder can be similar and often overlap, agoraphobia is a separate diagnosis. Agoraphobia may entail features of panic disorder, but not all panic disorders include agoraphobia. You don’t have to be diagnosed with panic disorder to be diagnosed with agoraphobia. And even if you don’t have panic disorder, you may still have panic attacks associated with agoraphobia.

A Word From Verywell

Frequently Asked QuestionsAgoraphobia—in Latin, “fear of the marketplace”—is a type of anxiety disorder. Its hallmark is an acute, persistent fear of being somewhere that’s difficult or impossible to escape from or of experiencing an embarrassing event in a public placeLearn More:What Is Agoraphobia?Signs and symptoms of agoraphobia must be present for at least six months to meet the diagnostic criteria for the condition, according to the DSM-V. These often lead to avoidant behaviors that negatively affect daily life.Learn More:Avoidance Behaviors and AgoraphobiaNo one knows for sure, but certain risk factors may increase your risk. These include:Having another anxiety disorder or phobiaA family history of agoraphobiaAbuse or traumaBrain chemistryLearned associationsIn addition, experiencing a panic attack in a certain situation or setting can lead to a fear that it will recur in the future.Learn More:Risk Factors for Panic Disorder and AgoraphobiaLearn all you can about the condition. Try to remain patient and understanding as the person learns to cope. Don’t force a particular approach or viewpoint, and understand that the person is not being weak or manipulative if they can do something one day but not the next.Learn More:How to Help Someone With Panic Disorder or Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia—in Latin, “fear of the marketplace”—is a type of anxiety disorder. Its hallmark is an acute, persistent fear of being somewhere that’s difficult or impossible to escape from or of experiencing an embarrassing event in a public placeLearn More:What Is Agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia—in Latin, “fear of the marketplace”—is a type of anxiety disorder. Its hallmark is an acute, persistent fear of being somewhere that’s difficult or impossible to escape from or of experiencing an embarrassing event in a public place

Learn More:What Is Agoraphobia?

Signs and symptoms of agoraphobia must be present for at least six months to meet the diagnostic criteria for the condition, according to the DSM-V. These often lead to avoidant behaviors that negatively affect daily life.Learn More:Avoidance Behaviors and Agoraphobia

Signs and symptoms of agoraphobia must be present for at least six months to meet the diagnostic criteria for the condition, according to the DSM-V. These often lead to avoidant behaviors that negatively affect daily life.

Learn More:Avoidance Behaviors and Agoraphobia

No one knows for sure, but certain risk factors may increase your risk. These include:Having another anxiety disorder or phobiaA family history of agoraphobiaAbuse or traumaBrain chemistryLearned associationsIn addition, experiencing a panic attack in a certain situation or setting can lead to a fear that it will recur in the future.Learn More:Risk Factors for Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia

No one knows for sure, but certain risk factors may increase your risk. These include:Having another anxiety disorder or phobiaA family history of agoraphobiaAbuse or traumaBrain chemistryLearned associationsIn addition, experiencing a panic attack in a certain situation or setting can lead to a fear that it will recur in the future.

No one knows for sure, but certain risk factors may increase your risk. These include:

In addition, experiencing a panic attack in a certain situation or setting can lead to a fear that it will recur in the future.

Learn More:Risk Factors for Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia

Learn all you can about the condition. Try to remain patient and understanding as the person learns to cope. Don’t force a particular approach or viewpoint, and understand that the person is not being weak or manipulative if they can do something one day but not the next.Learn More:How to Help Someone With Panic Disorder or Agoraphobia

Learn all you can about the condition. Try to remain patient and understanding as the person learns to cope. Don’t force a particular approach or viewpoint, and understand that the person is not being weak or manipulative if they can do something one day but not the next.

Learn More:How to Help Someone With Panic Disorder or Agoraphobia

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Medical School.National Comorbidity Survey (NCS).Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Table 3.10, Panic disorder and agoraphobia criteria changes from DSM-IV to DSM-5. In:Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health[Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016.Shin J, Park D-H, Ryu S-H, Ha JH, Kim SM, Jeon HJ.Clinical implications of agoraphobia in patients with panic disorder.Medicine. 2020;99(30):e21414. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000021414van Tuijl LA, Glashouwer KA, Bockting CLH, Tendeiro JN, Penninx BWJH, de Jong PJ.Implicit and explicit self-esteem in current, remitted, recovered, and comorbid depression and anxiety disorders: The NESDA study. Seedat S, ed.PLOS ONE.2016;11(11). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0166116Additional ReadingAgoraphobia. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Ed.). American Psychiatric Association: Washington, DC; 2013.Imai H, Tajika A, Chen P, Pompoli A, Furukawa T.Psychological therapies versus pharmacological interventions for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia in adults.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011170.pub2Inoue K, Kaiya H, Hara N, Okazaki Y.A Discussion of various aspects of panic disorder depending on presence or absence of agoraphobia.Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2016;69:132-135. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.05.014

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Medical School.National Comorbidity Survey (NCS).Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Table 3.10, Panic disorder and agoraphobia criteria changes from DSM-IV to DSM-5. In:Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health[Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016.Shin J, Park D-H, Ryu S-H, Ha JH, Kim SM, Jeon HJ.Clinical implications of agoraphobia in patients with panic disorder.Medicine. 2020;99(30):e21414. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000021414van Tuijl LA, Glashouwer KA, Bockting CLH, Tendeiro JN, Penninx BWJH, de Jong PJ.Implicit and explicit self-esteem in current, remitted, recovered, and comorbid depression and anxiety disorders: The NESDA study. Seedat S, ed.PLOS ONE.2016;11(11). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0166116Additional ReadingAgoraphobia. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Ed.). American Psychiatric Association: Washington, DC; 2013.Imai H, Tajika A, Chen P, Pompoli A, Furukawa T.Psychological therapies versus pharmacological interventions for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia in adults.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011170.pub2Inoue K, Kaiya H, Hara N, Okazaki Y.A Discussion of various aspects of panic disorder depending on presence or absence of agoraphobia.Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2016;69:132-135. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.05.014

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Harvard Medical School.National Comorbidity Survey (NCS).Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Table 3.10, Panic disorder and agoraphobia criteria changes from DSM-IV to DSM-5. In:Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health[Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016.Shin J, Park D-H, Ryu S-H, Ha JH, Kim SM, Jeon HJ.Clinical implications of agoraphobia in patients with panic disorder.Medicine. 2020;99(30):e21414. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000021414van Tuijl LA, Glashouwer KA, Bockting CLH, Tendeiro JN, Penninx BWJH, de Jong PJ.Implicit and explicit self-esteem in current, remitted, recovered, and comorbid depression and anxiety disorders: The NESDA study. Seedat S, ed.PLOS ONE.2016;11(11). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0166116

Harvard Medical School.National Comorbidity Survey (NCS).

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Table 3.10, Panic disorder and agoraphobia criteria changes from DSM-IV to DSM-5. In:Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health[Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016.

Shin J, Park D-H, Ryu S-H, Ha JH, Kim SM, Jeon HJ.Clinical implications of agoraphobia in patients with panic disorder.Medicine. 2020;99(30):e21414. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000021414

van Tuijl LA, Glashouwer KA, Bockting CLH, Tendeiro JN, Penninx BWJH, de Jong PJ.Implicit and explicit self-esteem in current, remitted, recovered, and comorbid depression and anxiety disorders: The NESDA study. Seedat S, ed.PLOS ONE.2016;11(11). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0166116

Agoraphobia. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Ed.). American Psychiatric Association: Washington, DC; 2013.Imai H, Tajika A, Chen P, Pompoli A, Furukawa T.Psychological therapies versus pharmacological interventions for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia in adults.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011170.pub2Inoue K, Kaiya H, Hara N, Okazaki Y.A Discussion of various aspects of panic disorder depending on presence or absence of agoraphobia.Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2016;69:132-135. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.05.014

Agoraphobia. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Ed.). American Psychiatric Association: Washington, DC; 2013.

Imai H, Tajika A, Chen P, Pompoli A, Furukawa T.Psychological therapies versus pharmacological interventions for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia in adults.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011170.pub2

Inoue K, Kaiya H, Hara N, Okazaki Y.A Discussion of various aspects of panic disorder depending on presence or absence of agoraphobia.Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2016;69:132-135. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.05.014

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