


Alternate Names:

Featuring content from MRI Clinic

  • About
  • The Facts



    Agoraphobia affects more women than men and is more common in those who are middle aged, widowed or divorced and economically disadvantaged. It affects 7% of women and 4% of men. It disproportionally affects people with panic disorder – half of people with panic disorder also have agoraphobia.


    In many cases, agoraphobia develops after a person has experienced a panic attack. Panic attacks involve feelings of intense, overwhelming terror along with physical symptoms such as sweating, dizziness, a pounding heart, and shortness of breath that usually lasts less than 10 minutes


    Symptoms and Complications

    Agoraphobia can come on suddenly or develop gradually, typically between the ages of 18 and 35. It is rare for it to start after the age of 40. It's an emotional and physical reaction to being put into a specific situation that triggers fear. Symptoms include:

    • strong feelings of panic, dread, terror, and horror
    • going to great lengths to avoid the situation that causes fear


    Making the Diagnosis


    In order to be diagnosed with agoraphobia, a person must have fear or anxiety of at least 2 of the following situations:

    • being in a crowd or standing in line
    • using public transportation
    • being in open spaces (e.g. marketplaces, parking lots, etc.)
    • being in enclosed spaces such as a theatre
    • being outside of the home alone



    Treatment and Prevention

    Treatment of agoraphobia may include both psychotherapy and medication. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a type of psychotherapy, is an effective method to treat agoraphobia. CBT works to teach specific skills to help change your thoughts that are causing your condition. CBT may be delivered by a therapist individually or in a group setting, via self-help books or through the internet.

    CBT may also involve exposure therapy. Exposure therapy works by encouraging patients to confront the situation they fear rather than avoid it. By deliberately staying in or imagining being in the circumstance that triggers a negative reaction, they gradually become used to it – this is called habituation – and their anxiety fades away as they realize nothing bad will happen to them.

    Medicine, including antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, can be used to help manage the fear and anxiety from agoraphobia. They can be used alone or in combination with psychotherapy.

