This document discusses agoraphobia, including its definition as anxiety or avoidance of places from which escape is difficult or where help may not be available during a panic attack. It notes that assessment involves collecting information to reach a diagnosis and determine treatment. The criteria for panic disorder with agoraphobia include recurrent unexpected panic attacks followed by at least one month of concerns about additional attacks, worries about consequences, or significant behavioral changes related to the attacks. A case study is presented of a 45-year-old male with panic attacks for 15 years who avoids fearful situations out of fear of embarrassment.

1. Agoraphobia
Brocha Cohen, Erika Ober, Claudia
Chandler Stone

2. Definition
• “Agoraphobia is anxiety about, or avoidance
of, places or situations from which escape
might be difficult (or embarrassing) or in
which help may not be available in the event
of having a panic attack or panic-like
symptoms”

3. Assessment
• Maxmen & ward define assessment as “ a
time-limited, formal process that collects
clinical information from many sources in
order to reach a diagnosis, to make a
prognosis, to render a biopsychosocial
formulation, and to determine treatment.”

4. Diagnosis
300.21 Panic Disorder with
Agoraphobia
• Recurrent unexpected panic
attacks
• One of the attacks followed by
1 month of one or more of the
following
• Concern about additional
attacks
• Worry of the consequences of
the attacks
• Significant change in behavior
related to attacks
• (DSM-IV-TR, 2010)

5. Diagnosis
• 95% Women
• 2-5% without panic

6. Case Study
• 45 year old Caucasian male
• Panic attacks for 15 years
• Increased attacks
• Recent move
• Started a new job
• 2-5 panic attacks per month
• Avoidance of fearful situations
• Fear of embarrassing himself
• Uses safety behaviors for avoidance

7. History
• First panic attack
• Had just had his first child
• Was a busy time of year
• Began to drink
• Began to avoid
• History of emotional disorders within family
• Mother suffered with alocholism and panic disorder with
agoraphobia
• Grandfather and mothers sisters
• Evaluated for other DSM Diagnosis
• Agoraphobic situations
• Cognitions associated with attacks

8. Diagnosis
Fits the criteria:
His Recurrent panic attacks
Concern about additional attacks
Worries about consequences ‘heart attack’
Behavior change
Anxious about places with no escape
Help might not be available
Avoids these situations
Genetic and environmental influences, modeling,
emergence of anxiety for panic