Health psychology/Phobias & anxiety · Anxiety / phobia

Agoraphobia

What it means

Anxiety about situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable — crowds, public transport, open spaces, queues, or being away from home alone — leading to avoidance.

Worked example

Becoming housebound; unable to use buses or enter busy shops.

In the exam

A woman gradually stops leaving home, unable to face buses, supermarkets or crowds for fear of having a panic attack with no escape, and becomes housebound.

What settles it

Agoraphobia fears the SITUATION (no escape/help), often with panic. Social phobia fears OTHERS’ judgement; specific phobia is a single cued object.

Classically confused with

Social anxiety disorder

Source: ICD-11; DSM-5