DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria
A. Fear or intense anxiety about two (or more) of the following five situations:
1. Use of public transportation (e.g., cars, buses, trains, boats, airplanes).
2. Being in open spaces (e.g., parking areas, markets, bridges).
3. Being in closed places (e.g., stores, theaters, cinemas).
4. Standing in line or being in the middle of a crowd.
5. Being away from home alone.
B. The individual fears or avoids these situations because of the belief that escape may be difficult or help may not be available if panic-like or other disabling or embarrassing symptoms occur (e.g., fear of falling in the elderly). advanced; fear of incontinence).
C. Agoraphobic situations almost always provoke fear or anxiety.
D. Agoraphobic situations are actively avoided, require the presence of a companion, or are resisted with fear or intense anxiety.
E. The fear or anxiety is disproportionate to the real danger posed by agoraphobic situations and to the sociocultural context.
F. The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is continuous, typically lasting six or more months.
G. Fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
H. If another medical condition is present (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, Parkinson’s disease), the fear, anxiety, or avoidance is clearly excessive.
I. The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is not better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder—for example, the symptoms are not limited to specific, situational phobia; they do not involve only social situations (as in social anxiety disorder); and are not exclusively related to obsessions
(as in obsessive-compulsive disorder), perceived defects or imperfections in physical appearance (as in body dysmorphic disorder), memories of traumatic events (as in post-traumatic stress disorder), or fear of separation (as in separation anxiety).
Note: Agoraphobia is diagnosed regardless of the presence of panic disorder. If the presentation in an individual meets the criteria for panic disorder and agoraphobia, both diagnoses will be assigned.