When is agoraphobia diagnosed as a standalone condition?

When is agoraphobia diagnosed as a standalone condition?

• A. When impairment is present, with duration at least 6 months, can occur with or without panic disorder.
• B. Only fear of open spaces; duration 2 weeks.
• C. Always requires panic attacks to be diagnosed.
• D. Resolves without treatment within 3 months.

Answer: (A)

Agoraphobia as a standalone diagnosis means all of the following: there is marked fear or anxiety about being in two or more situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, this fear leads to avoidance or is endured with intense distress, and it causes significant impairment. The key duration criterion is at least six months. It’s important that it can occur with panic disorder or in the absence of it. This is why the best answer says impairment is present, the duration is at least six months, and the condition can occur with or without panic disorder. The other statements misstate the criteria: agoraphobia is not limited to fear of open spaces or just one situation, the duration is longer than two weeks, panic attacks are not required for the diagnosis, and it does not resolve automatically within three months.

Agoraphobia as a standalone diagnosis means all of the following: there is marked fear or anxiety about being in two or more situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, this fear leads to avoidance or is endured with intense distress, and it causes significant impairment. The key duration criterion is at least six months. It’s important that it can occur with panic disorder or in the absence of it. This is why the best answer says impairment is present, the duration is at least six months, and the condition can occur with or without panic disorder.

The other statements misstate the criteria: agoraphobia is not limited to fear of open spaces or just one situation, the duration is longer than two weeks, panic attacks are not required for the diagnosis, and it does not resolve automatically within three months.