Agoraphobia (fear of public places) symptoms

Agoraphobia Without History of Panic Disorder

The essential features of Agoraphobia Without History of Panic Disorder are similar to those of Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia except that the focus of fear is on the occurrence of incapacitating or extremely embarrassing panic-like symptoms or limited-symptom attacks rather than full Panic Attacks. Individuals with this disorder have Agoraphobia (see p. 433 ) (Criterion A). The "panic-like symptoms" include any of the 13 symptoms listed for Panic Attack (see p. 432) or other symptoms that may be incapacitating or embarrassing (e.g., loss of bladder control, vomiting in public). For example, an individual may fear having a severe headache or cardiac symptoms and not being able to get help.

Diagnostic criteria for Agoraphobia Without History of Panic Disorder

1. The presence of Agoraphobia (see p. 433) related to fear of developing panic-like symptoms (e.g., dizziness or diarrhea).
2. Criteria have never been met for Panic Disorder (see p. 440).
3. 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.
4. If an associated general medical condition is present, the fear described in Criterion A is clearly in excess of that usually associated with the condition.