Agoraphobia

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Panic disorder with agoraphobia

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Agoraphobia

Symptoms:

Fear of being alone
Fear of losing control in a public place
Fear of being in places where escape might be difficult
Becoming house bound for prolonged periods
Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others
Feelings of helplessness
Dependence upon others
Feeling that the body is unreal
Feeling that the environment is unreal
Anxiety or panic attack (acute severe anxiety)
Unusual temper or agitation with trembling or twitching

Additional symptoms that may occur:

Lightheadedness, near Fainting
Dizziness
Excessive sweating
Skin flushing
Breathing difficulty
Chest pain
Heartbeat sensations
Nausea and vomiting
Numbness and tingling
Abdominal distress that occurs when upset
Confused or disordered thoughts
- Intense fear of going crazy
- Intense fear of dying

Signs and tests:

The individual may have a history of phobias, or the health care provider may hear a description of agoraphobic behavior from family, friends, or the affected person.

The individual may be sweating, have a rapid pulse (heart rate), or have high blood pressure.

Review Date: 12/9/2004
Reviewed By: James W. Dilley, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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