Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is characterized by an intense fear and/or avoidance of situations in which escape might be difficult or help may not be available if panic symptoms or other incapacitating or embarrassing symptoms were to occur.  Fears are associated with ≥2 of the following situations: using public transportation, being in open spaces, being in enclosed places, standing in line or being in a crowd, or being outside of the home alone.

The estimated lifetime prevalence of agoraphobia is 1%.  Females are more commonly affected than males (2:1 ratio), and onset is typically during adolescence and early adulthood.

Several factors may increase the likelihood of developing agoraphobia, including genetic predisposition, psychological factors (eg, neuroticism, behavioral inhibition, introversion), and environmental factors (eg, parental overprotectiveness, parental separation, adverse childhood events, stressful/traumatic life events).