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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder in which you avoid situations that you're afraid might cause you to panic. You might avoid being alone, leaving your home or any situation where you could feel trapped, embarrassed or helpless if you do panic.

People with agoraphobia often have a hard time feeling safe in any public place, especially where crowds gather. The fears can be so overwhelming that you may be essentially trapped in your own home.

Agoraphobia treatment can be tough because it usually means confronting your fears. But with medications and psychotherapy, you can escape the trap of agoraphobia and live a more enjoyable life.

Symptoms

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References
  1. Agoraphobia. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Jan. 7, 2011.
  2. Panic disorder. In: Hales RE, et al. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. 5th ed. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2008. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Jan. 7, 2011.
  3. Schatzberg AF, et al. Anxiety disorders. In: Schatzberg AF, et al. Manual of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 7th ed. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2010. 7th ed. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Jan. 7, 2011.
  4. Shih RD. Plants, mushrooms and herbal medications. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1102110593&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00162-6--s0135&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00162-6--s0135&uniqId=231117875-7. Accessed Jan. 7, 2011.
  5. Hepatic toxicity possibly associated with kava-containing products - United States, Germany, and Switzerland, 1999 - 2002. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5147a1.htm. Accessed Jan. 7, 2011.
  6. Ciechanowski P, et al. Overview of panic disorder. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 7, 2011.
  7. Satterfield JM, et al. Panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00025-1--sc0035&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&sid=1102117058&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00025-1--sc0035&uniqId=231117875-8#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00025-1--sc0035. Accessed Jan. 7, 2011.
  8. Agoraphobia. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed Jan. 13, 2011.
  9. Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 11, 2011.
DS00894 April 21, 2011

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