Agoraphobia

Clinic

• Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that primarily consists of the fear of experiencing a difficult or embarrassing situation from which the affected cannot escape.
• Panic attacks are commonly linked to agoraphobia.
• People with severe agoraphobia may become confined to their homes, experiencing difficulty traveling from this "safe place". The word "agoraphobia" comes from the Greek words agora (αγορά) and Phobos (φόβος), the term "agora" referring to the city centre in an ancient Greek city. In Japan, people who exhibit extreme agoraphobia to the point of becoming unwilling or unable to leave their homes are referred to as Hikikomori. The phenomena in general is known by the same name, and it is estimated that roughly half a million Japanese youths are Hikikomori.

People who have had a panic attack in certain situations may develop phobias of these situations and begin to avoid them. Eventually, the pattern of avoidance and level of anxiety about another attack may reach the point where individuals with panic disorder are unable to drive or even step out of the house. At this stage, the person is said to have panic disorder with agoraphobia.